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A BRIEF
STATE
OF the Province of
PENNSTL VANIA
I Price One Shilling. ]
A BRIEF
STATE
O F T H E
PROVINCE
O F
PENNSYLVANIA,
IN WHICH
The Conduct of their A s s e m b l i e s for feveral
Years pad is impartially examined, and the
true Caufe of the continual Encroachments of
the French difplayed, more efpecially the fecret
Defign of their late unwarrantable Invafion
and Settlement upon the River Ohio,
To which is annexed,
An eafy Plan for reftoring Quiet in the public Mea-
fures of that Province, and defeating the ambitious
Views of the French in time to come.
InaLETTER from a Gentleman who
has refided many Years in Pennjylvania
to his. Friend in London.
LONDON:
Printed for R. Griffiths at the Dunciad, in Pater-
Ncfter-Row. 1755.
^
4-
<
*v>
.v.
2>^°
\ t
( 3 )
A BRIEF
STATE
Of the Province of
PENSTLFJNIA
Dear Sif>
IN your laft, you Was pleafed to defire
fome Account of the State of Penjyl-
vanici) together with the Reafons why
wer who are efleemed one of the richefl
Colonies in Ntrth America^ are the moft
backward in contributing to the Defence
of the BritiJJj Dominions in thefe Parts,
againft the prefent unwarrantable Invafions
of the French. As I have been many Years
a Spectator, and I think an impartial one, of
the public Meafures purfued in this Province,
B I fc all
(4_)
I (hall very readily fatisfy your whole De-
fire. We are now in an alarming Situa-
tion, but we have brought the Evil upon
ourfelves, and Things are now come to
that Crifis, that if I was under no Obliga-
tion to fatisfy your Expectations, yet I
mould deem my Silence an unpardonable
Neglecl of the Duty I owe to my Coun-
t j . — 1 ^
You were rightly informed when you
were told that, of all the BritiJJ: Colonies
in North America^ P enfylvania is the moil
flourishing. Its Staple is chiefly Provifions,
of which it produces enough to maintain
itlelf, and a Hundred thoufand Men beiides.
From the Port of Philadelphia, at leatt 400
Sail of VeiTels clear out annually. The
Inhabitants are computed at about Two
hundred and twenty thoufand, of whom, it
is thought near one half are Germans. Of
the Rejidue not quite two Fifths are Qua-
kers. Above that Number are Pre/bvte-
rians-y and the remaining Fifth are of the
eftablijVd Church, with fome few Anabaf-
tijls,
Tl
( 5.)
The Legiflature is compofed of a Gover-
nor and Aflembly ; but the Council makes
no Part of it. The Aflembly are choien
annually, and claim a Right, by Charter,
to fit on their own Adjournment, without
being prorogued or diifolved by their Go-
vernors, although the Attorney-General of
England, and many other eminent Lawyers,
have given their Opinion to the contrary.
The Powers they enjoy are extraordinary,
and fome of them fo * repugnant, that
they are the Source of the greateft Confu-
iion in the Government. In order clearly
to make this out, we muft look backward a
considerable number of Years.
As the Colony was firft fettled chiefly
by Quakers, the Powers of Government
refted for the moft Part in them ; which
they conducted with great Mildnefs and Pru-
dence, not having as yet conceived any
Thoughts of turning Religion into apolitical
Scheme for Power.
* In fome Inftances they have both a legijlati ve and exe-
cutive Power.
B 2 A
( 6 )
A great many Circumftances concurred
to fix them in the good Opinion of the
World. The Firft of this Profeflion ftrove
to recommend themfelves by their drift
Honefty, and were a fober, thoughtful
People. The civil Conftitution was then
in its Infancy, and its Principles found. No
great Art was required in the Adminiftra-
tion of it, and no bad Effedts were felt from
the extraordinary Privileges granted to the
People, for the more expeditious Settlement
of the Colony.
Thofe, who have made Politics their
Study, know very well, that Infant- Settle-
ments flourifh fafteft under a Government
leaning to the republican or popular Forms,
becaufe fuch a Government immediately
interefts every Individual in the common
Profperity, and fettles itfelf at once on
a broad and firm Balis. Moreover, the
People being but few, and but fmall Profit
in public Offices, the Government may alfo
be adminifter'd without the Fadtion and
Anarchy incident to popular Forms. But
in Proportion as a Country grows rich and
popu-
(7)-
populous, more Checks are wanted to the
Power of the People ; and the Govern-
ment, by nice Gradations, fhould verge
more and more from the popular to the
mixt Forms. Thus it may happen that a
Conftitution which (hall preferve Liberty
and excite Induftry in any Country, during
its Infancy, (hall be prejudicial to both,
when Circumftances are altered.
For thefe Reafons, a civil Constitution
can neither be preferved nor completed,
unlefs, in the Diftribution or Lodgment of
Power, nice Regard is paid to all the
Fluctuations in Trade, Property, and other
Cafualties j and fhould either Wifdom or
Opportunities be wanting to adjuft the Con-
futation to thefe Circumftances, it muft fall
naturally into Convulfionss and, unlefs it is
able to purge itfelf thro' the Strength of its
Stamina, it muft linger into certain Diffo-
lution. Upon thefe Principles, all the Flux
and Revolutions of Empires may be ac-
counted for.
Now to apply thefe Maxims to Penfyl-
vania. The Quakers, as was hinted, could
not fail to get Credit by their Adminiftra-
tion,
( 8 )
tion, under the above-mentioned Circum-
fiances. Their Succeflbrs, who were quite
a different Sort of Men from the Founders
of this Province, finding themfelves efta-
blifhed, quickly enlarged their Views, and
have continued the Power in their own
Hands till this Time, without leaving a
Chance for thofe Struggles and Contentions
about it, by means of which the Confti-
tution might have been purged, improved,
and adapted to the Change of Circurn-
ftances.
Thus, in direct Contradiction to the
Rule laid down above, the People, inftead
of being fubjected to more Checks, are
under-fewer than at firft ; and their Power
has been continually increa{in£ with their
Numbers and Riches, while the Power of
their Governors, far from keeping Pace
with theirs, has rather been decreafmg in
the iame Proportion ever fince. The Con-
fequence of this is clear. The Govern-
ment, inftead of drawing nearer to the
mixt Forms, as it ought in Proportion to its
Growth, is now, in fact, more a pure Re-
public, than when there were not ten tliou-
iand Souls in it. The Inconveniencies of
'this
( 9 )
mis we now begin to feci feverely, and
they muft continually increafe with the
Numbers of the Peoole, till the Govern-
meat becomes at laft fo unwieldly as to fall
a Prey to any Invader, or fink beneath its
own Weight, unlefs a fpeedy Remedy is
applied* —
Tho' many Circumftances concurred to
bring us into this fad State, yet the chief
Source of the Evil was what follows :
In the Year 1723, the old Proprietor
William Perm, being lately dead, and his
next Heirs, at Law among themfelves about
the Government and Soil, Sir William Keith,
who was then Governor, falling into the
Hands of the Affembly, palled a Law,
giving them the fole Difpofal of all pubiic
Money, in manifeft Contempt of all the
Inftru&ions of the Proprietary Family.
■
This entirely completed the Scheme of
Power our Aflemblies had been long aiming
at, by rendering all fucceeding Governors,
and all the Officers of the Province, de-
pendent upon them 5 for now they annu-
ally • either vote or with-hold the Salaries
r
OX
( io)
of the Governor and all fuch Officers, ac-«
cording as they are, or are not, the Crea-
tures of the Aflernbly. And indeed moil
of them mint be fo ; for our Affemblies
have wrefted, out of the Hands of the
Governor, the Nomination of a great many
of the * Officers that hold the mod lucra-
tive Pofls in the Government.
PoffefTed of fuch unreftrained Powers
and Privileges, they feem quite intoxicated y
are factious, contentious, and difregard the
Proprietors and their Governors. Nay,
they feem even to claim a kind of Inde-
pendency of their Mother^Country, defpi-
fing the Orders of the Crown, and refu-
fing to contribute their Quota, either to the
general Defence of America, or that of
their own particular Province.
As a glaring Inftance of the former, I
need only mention their Oppofition to Go-
vernor Thomas, in railing Soldiers to fend
againft the Spaniards in the Weft-hidies^
and their abfolute Refufal to contribute a
Farthing for that Service. Since that Time>
during
* Such as the Provincial Treafurcr j the Truftees of the
Loan-Ojjice ; the Colleclor of the Evciie, Bronder of Flour,
Bronder of Beef and Pork, Health- Ofhcer, C5>.
( " )
during the whole Courfe of the late War,
they have often been called upon by the
Crown, and by. Governor Shirley of the
Maffachufcts, for the Expedition againft Cape-
Breton, Sec. To all which, if they have
at any Time contributed, it has been done
indirectly, and in a Manner mameful to
this rich Province ; fo grudgingly, and in
fuch fmall Sums, as rather to hurt than
ferve the common Caufe.
Forgetful of the public Good, they feem
wholly to have employed themfelves in
grafping after Power, altho' it is plain they
have already too much of this, and fuch as
is really inconfiftent and felf-deftrudtive.
Nor have they been more attentive to
the Defence of their own particular Pro-
vince, than of his Majefty's Americ vi Do-
minions, in general.
In Penjylvama, we have but one fmall
Fortification, and that raifed and fupported
at the Expence of private People. The
Proprietors, indeed, generoufly made us a
Prefent of twelve large Cannon, part of the
twenty-fix we have mounted, and they have
C alfo
( 12 )
alfo given the Gunner of the Fort a Salary
of twenty Pounds per Annum towards his
Support -f\ We are otherwiie entirely na-
ked, without Arms or Ammunition, and
expof.d to every Invafion, being under no
Obligation to military Duty. In the laft
War, one of the Spanijh Privateers came
up the Delaware, within a few Miles of
this City ; and when thofe, who were not
Quakers, took the Alarm, and affociated
themfelves for the Defence of the Country,
they not only received no Encouragement
from the AlTcmbly, but were abufed and
reproached for their Pains, and the Dutch
or Germans kept back from joining in the
Affociation, by all poffible under-hand
Practices.
The
■f The honourable Proprietors alfo propofed to our AfTem-
bly five Years ago, That if the Affembly would give Mo-
ney for building a Strong-Houfe on the Ohio (not venturing
to call it Fort, or any Thing that implied Defence) they, the
laid Proprietors would, on their Part, contribute any reafon-
able Proportion to the building and fupporting of the faid
Strong -Houie. But this Propofal, like many others, was
rejected with Scorn, merely, perhaps, becaufe it came from
the Proprietors ; nor was it fo much as thought worthy of
a Place in their Minutes; though it is clear, if it had been
complied with, the French had not now been fortified in the
fame River, as they now are.
( *j )
The French, well apprized of this de-
fencelefs and disjointed State, and prefuming
on the religious Principles of our ruling
People, have, the Year before laft, invaded
the Province, and have adtually three Forts,
now erefted far within the Limits of it.
Juftly, therefore, may we prefume that,
aflbon as War is declared, they will take
PofTeflion of the whole, fince they may
really be faid to have ftronger Footing in it
than we, having three Forts in it fupported
at public Expence, and we but one fmall
Fort, fupported only by private Gentlemen.
'Tis true our Neighbours, the Virginians^
have taken the Alarm, and called on our
Afliftance to repell the common Enemy,
knowing that if the French hold Footing in
Penfylvania, their Turn mud be next. In
like manner, the feveral Governors, and
ours among the reft, have received his
Majefty's gracious Orders to raife Money,
and the armed Force of their refpedtive
Governments on fuch an Emergency j and
had thefe Orders been complied with laft
Winter, the French would neither have
been able to drive the Virginians from the
C 2 Fort
( .14.)
Fort they had begun in the back Parts of
Penfyfoania, nor yet to get Poffeffion of
one third Part of the Province, which they
now have undoubtedly got thro' the Stub-
bornefs and Madnefs of our Affemblies.
But here two Queftions will naturally
arife.
i. Why are our Affemblies againft de-
fending a Country, in which their own
Fortunes and Eftates lie, if it is really in
Danger ?
2. Why have not the feveral Sums been
accepted, which they have offered for the
King's Ufe ?
With regard to the firft, it may feem a
Solecifm in Politics, for a People not to
defend their own Property when it is ac-
tually invaded^ unlefs they were certain of
the Friendihip of the Invaders*
I fhall not, however, be fo uncharitable
as to fuppofe our political Quakers reckon
it indifferent, whether, or not, the French
fhall make themfelves Matters of this Pro-
vince,
( '5 )
vince, notwithftandingPerfons at a Diftance
may be apt to judge fo for the following
Reafons. jjl> From the continued Refufal
of our Affemblies to defend the Province,
2dlyy From the extraordinary Indulgence
and Privileges granted to Papijis in this
Government : — Privileges plainly repugnant
to all our political Interefts, confidered as a
Frontier-Colony, bordering on the French^
and one half of the People an uncultivated
Race of Germans, liable to be feduced by
every enterprizing Jefuit, having almoft no
Proteftant Clergy among them to put them
on their Guard, and warn them againft
Popery.
Tho' this might be infinuated, yet from
Obfervation I have Reafon to believe, that
moil of the £>iiakers without Doors are
really againft Defence from Confcience and
their religious Tenets ; but for thofe within
Doors, I cannot but afcribe their Conduct
rather to Intereft than Confcience.
Our Affemblies apprehend, that as foon
as they agree to give fufficient Sums for the
regular Defence of the Country, it would
ftrike at the Root of all their Power, as
Quakers,
( 16 )
Quakers^ by making a Militia-Law need-
ful, in Time of Danger. Such a Law,
they prefume, would alter the whole Face
of Affairs, by creating a vaft Number of
new Relations, Dependencies, and Subor-
dinations in the Government. The Mi-
!itiay they fuppofe, would all vote for
Members of A {Terribly, and being depen-
dent on their Officers, would probably be
influenced by them. The Officers, again,
as they imagine, would be influenced by
the Government ; and thus the Quakers
fear they would foon be out-voted in moil
Places. For this Caufe, they will fufFer
the Country to fall into the laft Extremity,
hoping that when it is fo, our Neighbours
will, for their own Sakes, defend it, with-
out obliging them to pafs a Law, which,
they fear, would fo foon ftrip them of their
darling Power. But this Backwardnefs ©f
theirs has quite a contrary Effect ; for the
neighbouring Colonies, feeing this Colony,
that is immediately attacked, doing no-
thing, refufe to exert themfelves for a Peo-
ple, who are able, but unwilling, to de-
fend themfelves*
Thus much in anfvver to th&jirft Queftion.
With
( '7 )
With regard to the fecond, little need be
faid to fhew why the Monies they have
offered for the King's Service never couid
be accepted of, For while they have the
forefaid Apprehenfions from a Law for the
Defence of the Country, it muft be plainly
repugnant to their Intereft, ever to offer
Money for this Purpofe, unlefs in fuch a
Manner as they know to be inconfiftent
with the Duty of a Governor to pafs their
Bill into a Law. This will be fully under-
flood from what follows, which will alfo
fhew by what Means they fave Appearances
among the People, without doing any Thing
for the Public,
There was a royal Inftruction fent to all
the Englifo Governors in America, upon
the humble Addrefs of the Lords and Com-
mons, fignifying, That under Pain of his
Majefty's higheft Difpleafure, they fhall
not pafs any Act for the Emiffion of Paper-
Money, without a fufpending Claufe, that
it fhall not take Effect till his Majefty's
Pleafure is known. Since that Time, upon
Petition of the chief Merchants in England,
an Act of Parliament was pafTed, entirely
reftraining
( i8 )
reftraining the four New-England Colonies
from emitting any Paper-Bills at all, except
in the Cafe of an Invafiun, or fome great
Emergency, and then the fame to be funk
in a few Years. But the Southern Pro-
vinces ftill continue under the Force of the
Inftruclion.
Our late Governor, Mr. Hamilton > upon
receiving his Majefty's Orders to arm the
Province, folic-ited the Aflembly ' laft Win-
ter, to raife Money, and enable him to pay
a proper Obedience to the royal Com-
mands , but they totally difregarded him,
and adjourned themfelves. Upon receiving
an Account that the French had driven the
Virginians from their Fort, he again called
the Affembly, conjured them to obey his
Majefty's Orders, and demonftrated. the im-
minent Danger to which their Refufal would
expofe not only themfelves, but all the jBr/~
iijh Colonies. He at the fame Time let
them know, that tho> his Inftruclions re-
ftrained him from paffing any Paper Money
at all without a fufpending Claufe, yet, in
the prefent preffing Emergency, he would
rifque it, provided they would vote hand-
fomely, and link it within the Time prefcri-
bed
( '9 )
bed by Aft of Parliament, in the Cafe
of New-England, Then, and not till then,
they voted 10,000/. for his MajenVs Ufe,
redeemable by the Excife in twelve Years,
for which Time the Bills were to be lank
annually in equal Proportions*
In that Space the Excife would raife
45,000 A viz. 10,000 A for the King's
Ufe, and the remaining 35,000/. would
have been at their own Difpofal for what
Ufes they might think fit*
The Governor, therefore, juftly confi-
dercd, that if he fliould pafs this Bill, it
would be giving the Government out of
his Hands, and rendering himfelf and his
SuccelTors entirely unneceffary in the Ad-
miniftration for twelve Years. It would
be putting 35,000/. into the Hands of
the Affembly, ftill more to increafe their
Power, and lay out in Schemes to abridge
the Powers of their Proprietors and Go-
vernors ; for tho* the Preambles to all
our Money- A els, and to the Excife, fay
that the InterefUMoney, and what arife*
from the Excife, are to Le applied to the
Support of Government; yet they applv
D it
•
(ao )
it as they pleafe, viz. to diftrefs all who
©ppofe their Meaiures, and for building
Hofpitals, purchafing Lands, Libraries, &c.
For thele Reafons, and confidering alfo
that the Money was to continue leven
Years longer than the Aft of Parliament
allows, the Governor refufed his Aflent ;
upon which they adjourned, altho' they
knew very well before they propofed the
Bill, that he could not give his AfTent,
without incurring his Majefty's higheft
Difpleafure.
*
Upon the News of Wafiington 's De-
feat, laft Summer, the Governor agaia
fummoned them, and intreated them to
confider the melancholy Situation of Af-
fairs, and fall upon Ways and Means
to repel the Enemy, confiftent with his
Duty to pafs it ; he having, in the mean
Time, received Sir Dudley Riders Opi-
nion, that he could not, with Safety to
himfelf, pafs filth an Aft as they wanted.
They then voted him 15,000/. to be
raifed exaftly as before, being certain the
Governor could not venture to pais it.
Accordingly, upon his Refufal, they again
adjourned,
( 21 )
adjourned, and to intimidate other. Go-
vernors from daring to difpute their Com-
mands, with-held his yearly Salary.
Mr. Hamilton, a Gentleman of great
Honor, Probity, and good Senfe, having
for fome Time forefeen, that with fuch
an obftinate and perverfe People, he could
never, as Governor, enjoy Eafe to him-
felf, nor be in a Capacity either to obey
the King's Inftructions. or be of any real
Service to the Province his native Coun-
try, had wrote over to the Proprietors to
fend him a Succeffor, alluring them he
would no longer continue to act as Go-
vernor,
Upon the Appointment of the Pro-
prietors, he was accordingly fucceeded by
the Hon. Robert Hunter Morris^ Efq;
This Gentleman, upon his coming into
the Government, immediately fpoke, in
the moft pathetic Terms, to the new
AfTembly, compofed of the old Mem-
bers.—
D 2 After
{ 22 )
After a fliort Adjournment, they met
and offered a Bill for 20,000/. conceived
in the fame Terms as before, viz. to make
the Paper-Money extend for twelve Years,
though the new Governor had told them
before hand, that he was fubjefred to the
fame Inftruftions as his Predeceflbrs, and
could not pafs any fuch Bill into a
Law.
Thus their whole Condud has been of a
Piece in this Country, tho' I am well affured
it is very much disapproved of and con-r
demned by their Brethren the Quakers in
England, who are jufr.lv efteem'd a quiet and
upright People, fuch as we already obferv'd
the -firfl Quakers in this Province were.
It is very plain they have no mind to give
a fingle Shilling for the King's Ufe, unlefs
they can thereby irjcreafe their own Power;
but they keep continually voting Money
in order to keep the People on their Side,
who not being well enough acquainted, with
the Nature of Government, to underftand
why the Money-Biils cannot be paffed,
think every fuch Rejedtion of a Money-
Bill,
( 33 )
Bill, a Defign againft their Liberties, and
throw the whole Blame upon their Pro-
prietors and Governors, treating their
Names in the mod iniolent and contemp-
tuous Manner.
Hence it is that this Province is re-
duced to the moft miferable Condition.—
The People at Variance, and diftruftful
of each other ! A French Enemy and their
Savage Allies advanced far into our Terri-
tory ! The People on our Frontiers liable
to be murdered or driven from their Ha-
bitations ! Our Lives and all our facred
Rights expofed an eafy Prey! — And all
this owing to the Infatuation and deteft>
able Policy of a Set of Men who mind
noConfequences, provided, they can fecure
their own Power and their Seats in Aflcm-
bly.
A Petition from a Thoufand of thefe
poor Families, who inhabit the back Parts
of the Colony, was pref ented to the Affem-
bly, laft Angujly foon after Wajloingtoris
Defeat, praying that they might be fur-
nifhed with Arms and Ammunition for
4 their
( 24 )
their Defence ; but the Petition was re-
medied with Scorn. Our Indian Allies
have often defired us to build Forts, to
which their Wives and Children might
fly in time of Danger, and have juft * now
fent down to the Governor, begging he
would direct the Building a Stockade^ or
wooden Fort, in which they offer to de-
fend themfelves and us, from the Incur-
fions of the Enemy ; but the Affembly,
to be confident with themfelves, and fhew
that they are religioufly bent on the Ruin
of their Country, refufed to give any Mo-
ney for this Purpofe, and gave the Indians
for Anfwer, that if they were afraid of
the Enemy, they might retire farther
down, and come within the fettled Parts
of the Province.
Thus the nobleft Opportunity was loft
that could have been offered, of keeping
our Indians fteady, and for building a Fort
at a fmall Expence, in a Pais fo commo-
dioufly fituated between the Mountains,
that it would have effectually covered and
defended two of our Frontier Counties,
from
* December 1754.
( 25 )
from the Inroads of the French and their
Indians,
From what has been laid, it clearly
appears how much we iurfer by having
all public Monies in fuch Hands. Were
the Cafe otherwife, Matters might be
managed with Secreiy, Eale, Expedition,
Succefs, and a final 1 Expence, by em-
bracing the proper Opportunities. But
thefe Opportunities, being once loft, arc
often never to be recalled, as is too well-
confirmed by the Settlements of the French
at Crown-Point and on the Ohio, both
which might have been prevented at firft,
with one fiftieth Part of the Expence it
will now take to diflodge them, had not
the Hands of all our Governors been tied
up, by having the Difpofal of no Monies
oa fuch Emergencies, nor any Hopes of
obtaining it from our Aflemblies, if they
fhould advance any Sums for the public
Service.
But here it may be juftly afked, By
what means the Quakers, who are iu
fmall a P«art of the Inhabitants, and whofe
Mea~
(If)
Meafures are (o unpopular, get continu-
ally chofen into our Affemblies ?
Before the late Spanifi War, a confix
derable Number of our Affembly were
of other Denominations -, but at that Time
being called upon by Governor Tlootnas,
to arm for their own Defence, and the
Annoyance of his Majefty's Enemies, they
were alarmed with the Profpedt of lofing
their Power, if they fhould comply, as
was fhewn above ; and therefore they
entered into Cabals in their yearly Meet-
ing, which is convened juft before the
Ele&ion, and being compofed of Depu-
ties from all the monthly Meetings in
the Province, is the fineft Scheme that
could poffibly be projected, for conducting
political Intrigues, under the Mafk of
Religion. They likewife had Recourfe
to a German Printer, who was once one
of the French Prophets in Germany, and
is fhrewdly fufpe&ed to be a Fopifo Emif-
fary, who now prints a News-Paper en-
tirely in the German Language, which is
univerfally read and believed by the Ger-
mans in this Province. This Man> whole
Name
( 27 )
Name is Sailer, they took into their Pay,
and by his Means told the Germans there
was a Defign to enflave them; to force
their young Men to be Soldiers, make
them ferve as Pioneers, and go down to
work upon our Fortifications; — that a
military Law was to be made, infupport-
able Taxes to be laid upon them, and In
a Word, that all the Miferies they fuffer-
ed in Germany, with heavy Aggravations,
would be their Lot, unlefs they joined to
keep in the Quakers, under whofe Admi-
niftration they had fo long enjoyed Eafe
and Tranquillity ; and to force out of the
Affembly, all thofe who were like to join
the Governor, in giving Money for an-
noying the Enemy.
In confequence of this, the Germans,
who had hitherto continued peaceful, with-
out meddling in Elections, came down in
Shoals, and carried all before them. Near
1800 of them voted in the County of
Philadelphia, which threw the Balance on
the Side of the Quakers, tho' their Op-
ponents, in that grand Struggle, voted
.. E near
(28)
near 500 more than ever loft an Ele&ion
before.
The Quakers having found out this
Secret have ever fince excluded all other
Perfuafions from the AfTembly, conftantly
calling in the Germans to their Aid, by
means of this' Printer,
But the keeping the Quakers in, is not
the worn: Confequence of thefe infidious
Practices with the Germans. The bad
EfFedls of it will probably be felt thro*
many Generations. — The Germans, inftead
of being a peaceable induitrious People
as before, now finding themfelves of fuch
Confequence, are grown infolent, Allien,
and turbulent $ in fome Counties threat-
ning even the Lives of all who oppofe
their Views. The Quakers, in order to
keep them from taking up Arms in De-^
fence of the Province, or joining in Elec-
tions with their Opponents, have much
alienated their AfFedlions from the Go-
vernment, by telling them there is a De-
fign againft their Liberties. They are
taught
( 29 )
taught to have but one and the fame Idea
for Government and Slavery. All who
are not of their Party they call Governors-
Men, in Derifion. They give out that
they are a Majority, and flrong enough
to make the Country their own ; and in-
deed, as they are poured in upon us in
fuch Numbers (upwards of 5000 being
imported this laft Year) I know nothing
that will hinder them, either from foon
being able to give us Law and Language,
or elfe, by joining with the French, to
ejec~t all the Englijh Inhabitants.
That this may be the Cafe, is too much
to be feared, fince, as I remarked already,
they refufed, almoft to a Man, to bear
Arms in the Time of the late War. They
fay it is all one to them which King gets
the Country, fince, if they remain quiet,
they will be permitted to enjoy their E-
ftates, under the Conqueror, whoever he is $
and as they have, many of them, lived
under PopiJJj Rulers before in their own
Country, they give out that they know
the worfl that can happen.
E z And*
( 30 )
And, indeed, it is clear that the French
have turned their Hopes upon this great
Body of Germans. They have now got
PofTeffion of the vaft and exceeding fruit-
ful Country upon the Ohio, juft behind
our German Settlements. They know
our Germans are extremely ignorant, and
think a large Farm the greateft Bleffing
in Life. Therefore, by fencing their jfe-
fuitical EmhTaries among them, to per-
iuade them over to the Popijl: Religion,
they will draw them from the Englijh,
in Multitudes, or perhaps lead them in a
Body againft us. This is plainly a Scheme
laid by the French many Years ago, and
uniformly purfued till this Time, with
the greateft Addrefs ; being the true Caufe
of their continual Encroachments, and
holding their Countries by Forts, without
fettling them. When they come near
enough to have Communication with our
Germans, it will be much more their In-
tereft to plant their Colonies, by offering
the faid Germans eafy Settlements, than,
by bringing new Hands from Europe ;
fctf by fuch Means they not only get an
Acceffion*
(30
Accefllon of People who are accuftom-
ed to the* Country, but alfo weaken us,
in Proportion as they flrengthen them-
felves.
That now is the Time they propofe to
put their grand Scheme in Execution is
too evident. They are already fo near
us, that the French Camp, and their Forts
upon the Ohio and the Parts adjacent,
are not more than 225 Miles, horizontal
Diftance, from the City of Philadelphia,
and only about two Days March from
fome of our back Settlements. By Ac-
counts received lafl: Week, they have 2000
effective Men in thefe Parts, together
with a great Body of Indians at their
Beck.
Now there is no Way of preventing
thefe dreadful Misfortunes with which
we are threatened, but to open the Eyes
of the Germans to their true Interefts, and
foften this ftubborn Genius of theirs, by
means of InJlruBion. Faithful Proteflant
Minifters, and School-mafters, mould be
fent and fupported among them, to warn
them
(30
them againft the Horrors of PopiJJ: Sla*
very; to teach them found Principles of
Government, and inftrudt their Children
in the Englijh Tongue, and the Value of
thofe Privileges to which they are born
among us. If this can be done, and the
French driven from the Ohio, fo as to have
no Communication with our -j* Germans
for twenty or thirty Years, till they are
taught the Value of the Proteftant Reli-
gion, underftand our Language, and fee
that they have but one Intereft with us ;
they will for the future bravely fight
for their own Property, and prove an im-
pregnable Barrier againft the Enemy,
But as if it had been decreed by Fate*
or the evil Genius of the Quakers, that
they (hould never have the fame Intereft
with their Country in a fingle Inftance,
it is a Part of their Policy alfo to oppofe
every Scheme for inftrudting and making
EngHJhmen
■f- This fuppofes alfo that a Stop be put to the Impor-
tation of Germans into this Province, and that the Migra-
tion be turned from us -, for if new Hands are continually
brought in, and the old Families go back to other Colonies,
as they do at prefent, whenever they begin to get a little
Money, and know fomething of our Language, we ihall
never make EngHJhmen of them.
(33 )
Englishmen of the Germans. In order to
keep their Seats in the AfTembly, they
have not only, as I have fhewn, fuffered
the French to fix themfelves on the Ohio \
they have not only corrupted the Princi-
ples of the Germans j but, to be confident
with their Intereft, they muft ftrive to
keep thefe poor People in the fame dark
State, into which they have endeavoured
to fink them. For they know, that if the
Germans were inftrudted, fo as to be ca-
pable of ufing their own Judgment in
Matters of Government, they would no
more be milled by the Arts of a {Qua-
ker Preacher, than of a lurking Fre?ich
Pried.
Hence it is that, by means of their
hireling Printer, they reprefent all regular
Clergymen as Spies and Tools of State,
telling the People they muft not regard
any Thing their Minifters advife con-
cerning Elections, fince they have a Scheme
to elect Men who will bring in a Bill for
giving the Tenths to the Clergy, as in
fome other Countries. It is needlefs to
©bferve that no fuch Law can ever be
made
( 34)
made here, as being repugnant to Charter ;
for our Quakers, though they never fwear,
flick not gravely to affirm and adhere to
any Falfhood whatever, provided it will
fupport them in their darling Schemes for
Power.
There is nothing they more fear than
to fee the Germans pay any Regard to re-
gular Minifters. Whenever they know of
any fuch Minifter in good Terms with his
People, they immediately attack his Cha-
racter by means of this Printer, and di-
ftrefs him by dividing his Congregation,
and encouraging Vagabonds and pretend-
ed Preachers, whom they every now and
then raife up. This ferves a double End.
Firft, According to the Maxim, divide
& tmpera — it prevents the People from
joining in any new Defign, and hinders
any Minifter from ever having Influence
enough to fet them right at the annual
Elections.
Secondly,
(35)
Secondly, By difcouraging regular Mi*
htfters, it gives the Quakers an Opportuni-
ty of making more Profelytes.
This is the true Reafon why the mod
confiderable and wealthy Sedt among the
Germans, is the Menonijls, whofe Princi-
ples are much the fame with thofe of die
Quakers; for they hold it unlawful to take
Oaths, or bear Arms. Thus encouraged
by our ruling Men, this Se<ft has a great In-
fluence among the Germans, and the Me~
mnifts are daily increafing by the Con-
verts they make by their great Wealth,
which gives them an Opportunity of pay-
ing the ParTages of their rpoor Country-
men, who indent themfelves to ferve four
Years for the Money thus advanced for
them*
Befides thefe, there are near one Fourth
of the Germans fuppofed to be Roman Ca-
tholics, who cannot be fuppofed Friends to
any Defign for defending the Country again ft
the French. Many are alfo Moravians,
who, as they conceal their Principles, are
F lufpedU
( 3« )
iirfpecled to be a dangerous People, more
efpecially as they hold fome Tenets and Cuf-
toms, as far as we have any Opportunity of
judging of them, very much a- kin to thofe
of the Roman Catholics. There are alfo
many other Seels fpringing up among the
Germans ; which it would be tedious to
name, but moft of them are principled
againft bearing Arms.
I have faid enough to ihew that never
was any Country in a more diflreffed Condi-
tion than this ; and tho' it has flourished
in an extraordinary Degree, as it could
t>ot fail to do, when it was young, and
all thefe feveral Sefts employed only in
eftabliihing themfelves ; yet now, when
they are grown to Wealth and Maturity,
and are not fo neceffarily employed in
their private Concerns, they will turn
their Thoughts to the Public, or perhaps
againft one another ; and thence the utmoft
Confufion muft enfue", if a timely Remedy
is not applied, and more Checks con-
trived to balance their increafing Strength
than were neceflary at firft,
4 I am
(37)
I am forry it has fallen to my Lot to
trace all our growing Miferies to the
mifchievous Policy of my Fellow Subjects,
the Quakers \ who regard no Confequences,
hut holding their own Ground. Truth
and Duty obliged me to take up my Pen.
We have been too long filent, and had
this Reprefentation been made, as it ought
to have been, many Years ago, we had
not now been in fuch calamitous Circum-
stances.
I muft, however, in Juftice obfervq
that there have been fome honeft Spirits al-
ways among us, who have left nothing
unattempted for the Redemption of their
Country. Even as late as laft Qclober,
though they knew it was ftriving againfl
the Stream, thofe Perfons made a noble
Effort to convince the Germans of our
common Danger, and induce them to
join in the Choice of Men who would
defend the Province, and pay fome Defer-
ence to his Majefty's In ft ructions. They
reminded the Germans, that at their Na-
turalization, they had folemnly engaged
F 2 to
(3M
to defend his Majefty's Perfon and Go-
vernment againft all his Enemies ; and
that, in cafe of Refufal, they would be
quilty of Perjury. But all was in vain.
The Quakers held them immoveable, by
their uiual Infinuations ; and we might
as foon have attempted to preach the
ftormy Element into a Calm, as, by
Reafoning, to refcue thefe poor deluded
GennanSy out of the Hands into which
they are fallen,
Neverthelefs thefe worthy Perfons ima-
gined it their Duty to exert themfelves,
not only to convince the Quakers that
their Meafures were difapproved of by the
better Part of their Fellow-Citizens, but
alfo to fatisfy the Government of England
that there are ftill many in this Place,
who have not baniihed all Impreffions of
Loyalty and Duty from their Breafts.
I can, however, now fee no Remedy
left among ourfelves. We muft look to
our Mother-Country for Succour, and if
it is not fpeedily granted, this noble Pro-
. vince feeins irrecoverably loft. We fhall
be
( 39)
be driven from thefe beloved Habitations,
or elfe forced to fubmit once more, not
only to civil Slavery, but to Perfecution,
and that religious Slavery, from which
many of our Anceftors left the Land of
their Nativity, and fat down in thefe di-
ftant uncultivated Places, amidft the Hor-
rors of the howling Wildernefs !
Yet defperate as our Cafe is here, a
Remedy in England is eafy. Let the Par-
liament but make a Law to the following
Effedl :
I. To oblige all thofe who lit in Af-
fembly to take the Oaths of Allegiance
to his Majefty, and perhaps a Teft or
Declaration that they will not refufe to
defend their Country againfl all his Ma-
jefty's Enemies. — This feems the fmalleft
Teft of Fidelity that can be required
from thofe to whom the Conftitution of
their Country, and the facred Rights of
their Fellow-Subje&s, are committed in
Truft.
2. To
( 4o )
2. To fufpend the Right of Voting
for Members of Affembly, from ths
Germans, till they have a fufficient Know-
ledge of our Language and Conftitution.
— This Provifion is as reafbnable as the
former. What can be more abfurd and
impolitic, than to fee a Body of ignorant,
proud, ftubborn Clowns (who are un-
acquainted with our Language, our Man-
ners, our Laws, and our Interefts) in-
dulged with the Privilege of Returning
almoft every Member of Affembly ? Now
a Courle of about twenty Years would
make them acquainted with all thefe
Things, if, according to good Policy, we
make Jt their Intereft fo to be, and give
them the proper Opportunities, as I am
going to propofe. And unlefs fomething
is done this Way, we may incline them
to fome bad Meafures, and never procure
that Coalition, which we defire, and which
is fo much their Honour and Intereft.
3. It will therefore be abfolutely neceffa-
ry to encourage Proteftant Minifters and
School-mafters among them, as I hinted
already,
already, in order to reduce them into
regular Congregations -, to inftruft them
in the Nature of free Government, the
Purity and Value of the Proteftant Faith ;
and to bind them to us by a common
Language, and the Confcioufnefs of a com-
mon Intereft *.
4. But after fuch a Provifion is made,
it will alfo be neceffary, in order the more
effectually to induce the Germans to learn
Englijh, not only to fufpend for a Time
their Right of Voting for Aflembly-men,
as by the fecond Article, but alfo to make
all Bonds, Contracts , Wills, and other le-
gal Writings void, unlefs in the Englijh
Tongue.
* N. B. As a confiderable Progrefs is made in a Defign
of this Nature, and a confiderable Sum collected for it, by
a generous and public-fpirited Society of Noblemen and
Gentlemen in London , who are all Perfons of high Rank
and Worth, the Parliament could not do a more effectual
Service to the Britijb Intereft in America, than to aflift the
faid Society, by making an annual Provifion for inftrucling
poor Germans in thefe Parts, for the Space of twenty or
thirty Years, till they are brought into a regular State.
Some Englijh Schools are already begun, and an excellent
Scheme laid for their Government ; but without public
Aid, it is feared the charitable Contributions of private
Perfons, will prove utterly inadequate to fupport a Defign
of fo great national Importance.
(42 )
Tongue. For want of fome Regulation of*
this Nature, the greateft Confufion is like to
be introduced into our Laws, and Courts
of Juflice*
5. That no News- Papers, Almanacks,
or any other periodical Paper, by what-
ever Name it may be called, be print-
ed or circulated in a foreign Language.
Or, mould this be deemed too fevere
(which I think it cannot reafonably be)
then it may be provided, that no fuch
Publication or Circulation be made,
unlefs there be a jirft and fair Eng-
HJIo Verfion of fuch a foreign Language,
printed in one Column of the fame Page
or Pages, along with the faid foreign Lan-
guage.
For want of fome fuch Regulation as
this, continual Prejudices are propagated
among the Germans, without our knowing
it, or being able to remove them when
they come to our Knowledge.
Now a Law confifting of the five fore-
faid Provifions, or fomething equivalent,
would
(43 )
would effectually refcue us from all the
fad Train of Calamities I have pointed
out ; and without fuch Means, I fee no-
thing to prevent this Province from falling
into the Hands of the French.
It cannot be expected that private
Perfons, without the Aid of the Legifla-
ture, can long defend the Country, or
fupport the Expence of military Prepara-
tions. A few Men, among us> have al-
ready expended large Sums this Way,
and can fee no End of it.
During the late War, they petitioned
his Majcfty, fetting forth their Difficulties
in this Refpedt, and the defencelefs State
of the Province ; in which they were coun-
tenanced by the Proprietors, who with
great Earneftnefs folicited the Matter, and
have on every Occafion been zealous and
a&ive for the Defence of the Colony.-
The Petition was referred to a Committee of
the Privy-Council and the Lords Commif-
fioners of Trade and Plantations, who re-
ported in favour of it.- But the Petitioners,
at that Time, received no Relief, owing,
G as
( 44 )
&s they prefume, to the other weighty
Affairs of Government, which then ne-
cefTarily engroffed the Attention of his
Majefty's Minifters. Peace being foon af-
ter concluded, the Petitioners remained fi-
lent, till we are now again alarmed with
greater and more threatning Dangers than
ever. Longer Silence would be unpardon-
able, and the fooner the Britifi Nation is
acquainted with our State, the more poffi-
bility of Redrefs will remain.
It may be faid, with the greateft Juftice,
that our Proprietors and our late Gover-
vernors, have done every thing in their
Power to affift us, and keep up to an
Englifi Conftitution ; for which they have
been reviled, abufed, and all imaginable
Steps taken to hurt them in their Intereft,
by this perverfe and proudeft of People,
who, under the Mafk of extraordinary
Sanctity and Confcience, lord it over their
FeHow-Subje-fts.
Whatever be the Confequence, all our
Misfortunes can be charged no where but
upon our People themfelves, and I have
i fhewn
( 4j )
{hewn that it would be plainly repug-
nant to their Intereft to remedy Griev-
ances. All Redrefs therefore, muft, if it
comes, come from his Majefty, and the
Britijh Parliament, to whom our diftreffed
and melancholy Condition muft be humbly
fubmitted. If our Cafe is longer over-
looked, I fhall foon begin to think of re-
turning, to fpend the imall Remainder of
my Days in quiet with you, and to leave
my Bones in the Land where I drew my
firft Breath. Mean while, permit me to
aflure you, that,
I am, &c.
FINIS.
-
2d
A
BRIEF VIEW
Of the Conduct of
P E N N S TL FAN I Ay
For the Year 1755;
So far as it affected the Genera] Service of the
British Colonies, particularly the Expedition
under the late General Braddock.
With an Account of the fhocking Inhumanities,
committed by Incurfions of the Indians upon the
Province in Oclobcr and November \ which occahoned
a Body of the Inhabitants to come down, while the
Aflembly were fitting, and to infift upon an imme-
diate Sulpenfioxi of all Difputes, and the Palling of
a Law for the Defence of the Country.
Interfpers'd with feveral interefting Anecdotes and original
Papers, relating to the Politics and Principles of
the People called QUAKERS: Being a Sequel to
a late well-known Pamphlet,
I N T I T L E D,
A Brief State of Pennsylvania.
In a Second Letter to a Friend in London.
To fee the Sufferings of my Fellow-Creatures ,
And own my f elf a Man ; — to fee our Senators
Cheat the deluded People with a Shew
Of Liberty, which yet they never tafle of —
All that hear this are Villains, and I one
Not to roufe up at the great Call of Nature^
To check the Growth of thefe domelric Spoilers
Who make us Slaves, and tell us^ — 'tis our
Charter ! Shakefpear.
LONDON:
Printed for R. Griffiths in Pater-nofter Rcnv ; and Sjld
by Mr. Bradford in Philadelphia. 1756.
£ Pi ice One-lhilling and Six-pence.]
[3l
BRIEF VIEW
Of the Conduct of
P E N N S T L VA N I A
For the Year 1755.
Bear SIR,
O U did me great Honour in judging
my lad Letter * worthy of the public
View •, and I am glad to find your
Judgment fo well confirmed, by the
univerfal Notice that is taken of it. This was,
no doubt, chiefly owing to the Nature of the
Subject, which, becoming every Day more in-
terefting, is a Reafon why I fhould continue my
Remarks, in Compliance with your continued
Requeft. You may, therefore, expect an im-
partial Account of fuch of our public Tranfac-
tions as have affected his Majefty's Service in
thefe Parts, fince the Time of writing my Jaft to
you •, and as I know that you are determined
wholly by a View to the public Good, I mail be
perfectly fatisfied with whatever Ufe you may
make of the Informations I give you.
A 2 To
* It was publifhed by R. Griffiths, intitled, A Brkf&tdft
of Pennfylvania.
[4]
To us who inhabit thefe Colonies it muft give
a very fenfible Satisfaction, to fee the Attention
of every honefi Enghfoman fo clofely turned to-
wards our Protection and Safety. Undutiful,
therefore, and bafely ungrateful might we be
deemed, if we mould attempt to impofe upon
our diftant Countrymen and Benefactors, by lame
or partial Accounts of things which are of the laft
Importance towards our common Happinefs!
For my part, I fhall confine my fell" entirely to
a Detail of undeniable and notorious Facts, which
I have been an Eye-witnefs of-, and I have not a
fingle Inducement to give a partial Relation of
them. By my Station, as well as Principles, you
know that I difclaim all Party- connections, and
have nothing to hope or to fear from any of
thofe called Parties among us. My only View is
to remove grofs Mifreprefentations, and to dif-
play the miferable and defencelefs State of this
Province to thofe who only can relieve and fave it.
My Motive to this is a moft affecting one. —
My Life is at Stake, and the Cry of Blood, Death
and Defolation hourly pierces my very Heart from
the Country round about.
When I laft wrote to you, I told you that I
could no longer be filent, and behold the Di-
ftrefs of the Province in whieh 1 lived. — " A
" French Enemy and their Savage-allies being
<c advanced into our Country, and fortified,
<c within a few Days March of our Metropolis.
" The People on our Frontiers liable to be mur-
" dered and driven from their Habitations ! Our
Lives and facred Rights expofed an eafy Prey,
by the Infatuation of a Sett of Men amongft
ourfelves, who are principled againft Defence,
" and regard no Confequencjes provided they can
fecure their darling Power, and keep their Seats
" in
ti
t 5 1
<c in Aflfcmbly." I told you alfo that it was to
be feared that the Enemy, expecting to find no
Refinance from this Province, on account of the
religious Principles of our Rulers^ had turned
their Aims upon the Conqueft of our Country,
and the Alienation of the Foreigners amongft us.
I obferved further, that there was no Poflibility
of getting thefe Men out of our AfTembly, fince
they had, by a great many wicked Practices
(which I then recounted to you) got thefe Fo-
reigners entirely in their Intereft, who are about
one half of the People in the Province.
Since the writing of the aforefaid Letter, every
thing which I then feared is come to pafs. After
the Defeat of General Braddock^ and the Depar-
ture of the Remainder of the Army to the North-
ward, the Enemy, expecting no Refiftance from
us, have made a Defcent upon the Province, and
are almoft Mafters of the whole Country between
the Ohio and Scfquehannah. Inftead of 220 Miles
Diftance, as I laid they were before, their ScaU
ping-parties have been within 65 Miles of this
City ; and it is feared they intend to fortify them-
fclves as near us as poflible (fome think about
Sbamokin) in order to fupply themfelves with
Provifions, and harrafs our Inhabitants thro' the
Winter. A great Number of Families have been
fcalped by them, and fome thouiands have fled
from their Habitations farther down into the Pro-
vince. A general Pannic reigns among the Peo-
ple ; and when a few refolve to make Head a-
gainft the Enemy, it is impoffible to keep up
Order amongft them for want of a proper mi-
litia Law, which our Aflembly have (till re-
fufed to pafs ; nor is there any Probability of ob-
taining it, as I fhall afterwards fhew.
The
[ 6]
The Confequence of all is, that inevitable Ruin
feems to hang over this rich and ufeful Province,
unlefs the King and Parliament ihall interfere,
upon fome fuch Plan as I pointed out in my laft.
For we now find by Experience, what I then
hinted, that in time of Danger, it cannot be ex-
pected that Individuals mould undertake the Bur-
den of Defence without a proper Law to make
it fall general and equal.
I have, therefore, (till greater Reafon than be-
Fore, to continue remonftrating, and I (hall never
ceafe to remonftrate, againft the public Meafures
of this Province, as long as I fee my poor Fel-
low-fubjects bleeding and /offering thereby ; and
our capital City fcarce fafe from the infidious Tn-
curfions of an Enemy, almoft within a Day's
March of us.
I well know that the Tafk in which I am en-
gaged muft be an invidious one to fome ; but it
is an honeft and necefTary one. Thofe who are
affected by the Cenfures which I lhall be obliged
to pafs, will, no doubt, roar out as ufual. It
would be hard to deny them this Privilege, when
the Scourge of their Iniquity is keenly applied
to them. But unlefs they (hall bring Arguments
as conclufive as mine, I hope they will receive
only a proportionable Degree of Credit-, and with
regard to the hard Names they may bellow, let
them be palled over as things of nought.
There is not a more unpromifing Subject, on
which to write, than the Times we live in. If
we are obliged to blame the Administration, and
probe into the Bofom of profperous Villainy, it is
like waking a Neft of Hornets, who will be fure
to fting and to purfue, if they can, to Deftruc-
tion. 3Tis the fame, if Truth requires us to pay
a candid Applaufe to Virtue in Power : It equally
roufes
[7l
roufes the Refentment of every little Pretender
who is out of Power : In either Cafe, to touch
upon living Characters, is to embark on a Sea of
Troubles.
But, on the other Hand, he who writes of the
Times that are elapfed, launches forth on a gentle
Surface, neither toffed into Tumult by the rude
Breath of Calumny, nor the fwelling Tides of
Party. Yet ftill it is from the former that the
latter muft borrow his Materials ; and if no Per-
fon had Boldnefs and Honefty enough to write
concerning his own Times, the World would be
deftitute of the Hiftory of all Times.
I pleafe myfelf, therefore, with the Thoughts
that thefe Remarks and Anecdotes will live when
Calumny itfelf is dead, and help to throw Light
upon the important Hiftory of this Province,
when the prefent Sett of Actors fhall be filent
as the Grave. Nay, I have already had the Sa-
tisfaction to find that my laft has not only been
a powerful Means of laying open the internal
State of this diftrefTed Colony, to the Eye of
the Britijh Nation, but alfo of difpelling Pre-
judices among the People here ; many of whom
begin to fee how grofsly they have been milled,
even by their own Reprefentatives.
As foon as my brief State made its Appearance
here, in the Form of a Pamphlet, it was as a
Clap of Thunder to our Rulers, who had not
been accuftomed to fuch plain Dealing. But
Facts are of a ftubborn Nature. They found
it in vain to combat the cleared Evidence, and
therefore wifely refolved to pafs over the whole.
It would have been well for them, could they
have adhered to this Refolve ; in which Cale
they would have efcaped the keener Cenfure they
4 have
[ 8]
h2ve fince met with from another Quarter *.
But their Uneafinefs could not conceal itlelf amidft
their affected Silence •, and though they had nei-
ther the Courage nor Candor to attempt an open
and fair Refutation, they kept throwing out dark
and infidious Hints againft it. At length, in
the Months of nuguft and September, out came
the whole collected Indignation of the Party,
from no lefs a Body than our AfTembly itfelf.
In two remarkable Meflages, filled with the
groffeft Abufes of their Governor, my Brief Slate
is fathered upon him, and honoured with the Ap-
pellation of. " famous Libel." The only Reafon
afiigned for this is that — " It teaches the Doc-
f* trine of a Neceffity for a Change in our civil
4C Conftitution." — And for this I beg Pardon,
for I meant only to teach the Doctrine of a Ne-
ceffity for a Change of our Quaker- Rulers, whole
Principles have almoft undone their Country, and
its Conditution too.
Soon after this, a Writer, in one of our News-
papers, taking the Hint from his Matters, ven-
tured to give the fame Name of Libel to my
Brief State. For this he alfo gave only one Rea-
.fon, which was a very remarkable one, — .namely,
that the Brief State was " filled with perfonai
*c Scurrilities againft whole Bodies of People." —
.This feeras ftrange at fir (I Sight ; but it is eafily
reconciled. For the Writer was confeious, that
all the Reflections in the Pamphlet, directed
againft whole Sects and Bodies, were due only
to himfelf and to one or two more, who have
long miflcd the reft. He therefore fpoke very
confidently with himfelf, though not with com-
mon Language, when he faid perfonai Reflections
againft
* In the New-Turk Mercury, quoted below, N° 168.
[9]
againft whole Bodies. — Thefe are all the Objec-
tions that have ever appeared here, where the
Facts, if falfe, might eafily have been refuted.
Before I conclude, I fhall fully prove againft
the Aflembly, that it is not Libelling of them, to
fay that they are a factious Cabal, effectually
promoting the French Intereft, and a dead Weighc
upon his Majefty's Service. This, and every
other Charge which is brought againft them in
the Brief Slate, I mall fupport with frefh and un-
deniable Evidence.
As to the other Writer, I find him fo well
handled for me in the New-York Mercury, that
I need only to tranferibe the Subftance of it. —
My Vindicator, in that Paper, begins with a
heavy Complaint that in Philadelphia, by the
fcandalous Practices of the ArTembly's Party, he
was refufed the Privilege of the Prefs, which had
been granted to them ; and that he was obliged
to feek for that Juftice in another Province, which
he could not obtain in his own.
He then obferves, that the Reafon of his
Writing was to make proper Remarks on an
ErTay which had juft been publifhed in a Phila-
delphia News-paper, containing feveral Extracts
of Letters from London, either fictitious, or
written to our AfTembly by their ever-faithful
Agents ; fetting forth, that the Clamors raifed
againft them, by my Brief State, were juft be-
ginning to wear off; — that there were many,
both Peers and Commoners in England, who now
acknowledged that they had been impofed upon
by the Brief State, and that they began to con-
fider our AfTembly's Conduct, as one of the mod
glorious Struggles for Liberty which Hiftory
can (hew ; — that the Governor's Conduct was of
courfe condemned, and that the Author of the
B Gen-
[ ,o]
Gentleman's Magazine (for June 1755) in his
State of the Difpute, had publifhed a Falfhood,
when he fays — " Thus ended the long protrac-
" ted Difpute between the Governor and Affem-
w bly of Pennjylvania, which was finally referred
" to the higheft Determination, by which the
" Governor's Conduct was approved, and his
" Refolutions confirmed." —
In Reply to this, the Vindicator of my Brief
State obferves, that he could fee no other Rea-
fon for charging the Author of the Magazine
with Falfhood and Partiality, in a Difpute that
fo little interefts him ; unlefs it be, that he has
not taken the Part of the Affembly, in Viola-
lation of his Veracity, his Judgment, and of
that Candor wherewith he has fo long entertained
the World.
With regard to the Extracts of Letters in fa-
vour of the AlTembly, my Vindicator fays he
can balance them with Extracts on the other Side,
written alio from London, by Perfons of equal
Importance, and probably more Impartiality than
the Affembly's Letter- writers •, which Extracts
he gives in Subftance as follows. —
One lays — " The Affairs of your Province
" are much talked of. Every Body blames your
" Affembly, and feems convinced of the Ab-
" furdity of fuffering a Sett of Men to have
<; any Share in Government, whofe religious Prin-
iC ciples difqualify them for that which is the
u chief End of all Government, namely, to de-
" fend the Lives and Properties of the People,
" from external Violence. We now perceive
<c clearly, that all their pad Difputes about In-
.** (tructions, were only introduced in order to
" fave Appearances, and avoid doing any thing
" contrary to what they call their Principles, or
" that
It
tt
E if 3
<c that Scheme of Policy which holds them to-
" gether. In the Name of all that's good, if
** they have any real Scruples of Confcience
" againft Defence, and no political Ends to ierve
by keeping their Power, why do they not at
once bonejlly refign the Government into the
Hands of thofe, who, in your prefent dange-
" rous Situation, would do honour to it, and
M enable you to make as good a Figure as your
M brave Neighbours to x\\t Northward, who
" have done fo much for the common Defence
" of America ? M —
Another fays — " There is fomething very ho-
nonourable in the Conduct of his Majefty's
Colony of New-York^ which meets with great
Applaufe here. You know, the Inhabitants
of that Colony were always reckoned a warm
Party-people ; but now, in the prefent Exi-
gency, they have wifely fufpended every Dif-
pute that could retard his Majefty's Ser-
" vice ; and we find them among the moll: zea-
" lous in the common Caufe. As for your
" Pennsylvania AiTembly, I cannot conceive
" what Sort of Creatures it is made up of. We
44 hear of nothing from them but eternal Dif-
M putes and Quarrels. Why cannot they give
,c Money on the fame Terms with the neighbour-
" ing Colonies, and agreeable to that Mode
44 fixed upon by the Wifdom of the Crown, upon
" an Addrefs from both Houfes of Parliament ?
44 Mod certainly they have no Intention to give
11 any Thing at all. People here wonder to find
44 them hinting Defigns of Oppreffion and Slavery,'
iC Their Language and Conduct, in all their
" Debates, plainly (hew that they are Strangers
44 to every Thing of Oppreffion but the Name,
u which on every Occafion they wantonly make
B 2 " ufe
[ n 3
46 ufe of, as a Cloak for their own Infolence of
" Power. Indeed it feems to me the next Step
to Treafon itfelf, to be infinuating fuch Things
in any Part of a free Monarchy. There can
be no fuch Thing as partial Slavery and Op-
M prejjion under an Englijh Conftitution."
Another fays — u The conftant Endeavours of
" your Affembly to perfuade their Governor that
: he may legally break through all his foftruc-
tions, and their keeping back his Salary when
he refufes to comply, appear here in a very bad
Light, If your Governor is a Branch of the
Legtflature, it is the Height of Impudencef
and a Violation of the Conftitution, not to
leave him to exercife his own Judgment with
Freedom and Independency. They mud indeed
be a very corrupt People ; for, if the Go-
" vernor could come into their Meafures, with-
" out falling under the Lam of the Law, is he
<c therefore to be unraithful to his Truft ? We
" know that the very Nature of a Truft implies
* a Capacity of breaking it; and if this could
" be done without the Lafh of the Law, is
there no Law of Conscience and Equity ?
And may a Man always be a Villain when
he is without the Reach of civil Juftice ? It
; is no wonder that fuch Men fhould drive to
<c alienate the Affections of the Germans fettled
6t among you, in order to ferve their Party-
purpofes, when we fee they have even the
A durance to attempt the corrupting their Go*
vernor s thtmfelves, who are the immediate
ic Servants of the Crown.
<c This Charge of alienating the Germans is
" brought againit your Affembly, among other
" Charges, in a Pamphlet late published here,
f[ entitled A Brief State of the Province of Penn-
fylvania.
*c
cc
<cc
ft
ft
4%
cc
44
[*3]
u fylvania. It is very eagerly read, as indeed
" almoft every thing relating to the Colonies is,
" at this time. It contains a Number of Charges,
" chiefly Facts, laid together, in a Manner Co
" clear, fo fpirited and confident, that it will
" be hard to refute them. There has, it is true,
" been an Attempt to anfvver it: But it is a poor
iC abufive Affair, written in a confuted Manner.
" The Author * does not enter upon the Rcfu-
" tation.
* This Anfwer is faid to be the Produ&ion of one -f-
formerly an Attorney's Clerk. He was convicted of For-
gery, fentenced to be hanged, but after fome time obtained
the Favour of Tranfportation ; and did us the Honour to
take up his Refidence in this Province. But, being dif-
covered, and filenced from Pleading as any Attorney here,
he returned home at the Expiration of the Term of his Ba-
nifhment. Thinking himfelf a fit Tool for the Party lie de-
fends, and hoping to pave the Way for his future Preferment
amongfh them, he undertook to anfwer my Brief State, with-
out any Acquaintance with the Fads he wrote about. The
Amount of what he fays, is
i/?, That the Title-page of the Brief State is a Puff, fee-
ing the Caufes of the French Encroachments are in no part
o/ the Performance accounted for.
zdlyy That the Men in Oppofition to the Quakers are all
a Pack of Rafcals.
In anfwer to the firfl, I mail quote the Brief State itfelf.
Page i 3, it is faid, — " The French have invaded and built
u three Forts in the Province, being well apprifed of its
** defenceless and difunited State, and pr e fuming on the
41 religious Principles of our ruling People.1' — This
Prefumption then, on the Quakers Principles, and our defence-
]e(s State, are given as Caufes of the French Encroachments.
Again, page 30, it is faid,—** The French having turned
" their Hopes upon the great Body of Germans in Pennfyl-
•* lanz'a, have got jufl behind them, and ilrengthened them-
'* felves upon our exceeding fruitful Lands on the Ohio.
" They know thefe Germans are extremely ignorant, and as
" yet little acquainted with the BleiTings of an FnglJJ? Con-
'* ftitution ; thinking a large Farm the greateft Blefling in
•' Life. Therefore, by fending their jefuitical Miflionaries
•• among them, to perfuade them over to the Popijh Reli-
'* gion, and by offering them eafy Settlements upon the faid
." Lands, the Trench will draw thefe Germans, as they have
*' done
[ 1+]
** tation of any of the Fafls charged upon the
<c AfTembly, but takes Occafion to vent his
u Choler againft fome particular Men amongft
u you, who, one would think, had greatly of-
" fended him -f .
" Thus the Account of Extracts is balanced ;
" and whenever the AfTembly fhall favour us
•* with more on their Side, we can alfo furnifh
*c more on the other. As for the Teftimony of
the Author of the Prefent State of North Ame-
rica*
<t
cc
" done the Indians, over from the EngUJh, or perhaps lead
" them in a Body againft us. This Scheme has been long
" laid, and uniformly purfued by the French.'1'' — Here are
more Caufes of the French Encroachments.
Now, tho' I difclaim the Art of multiplying Words need-
lefly, which my Antagonift is fo much a Mailer of, I think
the above Paragraphs clearly difplay the End, Caufes and
Defigns, of the late French Encroachments. Nor does it re-
quire many Words to tell that thefe are their Views, fince
they are fo well known here, that a Man would be laughed
at who mould affect to difbelieve them.
As to the fecond, I do not wonder that a Writer, who is
confeious of being ,a Villain himfelf, mould endeavour to
blacken the Characters of others. The Truth is, that the
Men in Oppofition to the Quakers, are of the firft Character
and Fortune in this Province : They oppofe the Quakers from
no Party -view, and defire no Share in the Government, but
only to fee it in the Hands of Men who are not, by their
Principles, unfit for it. Provided they can fee their Country
defended, and their Eftates fecure, the Gentlemen in the Op-
pofition do not care by what Inilruments it is done. For,
in Oaober 1754, they procured a Meeting with the leading
Quakers, who fvvay the Mob at Elections, and entreated them
to name Men of any Perfuafion, provided they were for De-
fence, and they would not only drop their Oppofition, but
mod cordially join the Quakers, in the Choice of fuch
Men.
The other Part of this abufive Anfwer is fo full of Mif-
reprefentations and Blunders, owing to the Author's want of
common Honefty, and the Diftance at which he writes, that
the Quakers here difown the Piece. And this will be the
Cafe with every other Anfwer, written where the Fads arc
not known.
\ They filenced him from Pleading here.
n rica J, who is dubbed with the Title of inge-
M nious, for having found out that the Quakers
44 are a very refpeftable Body of People •, they arc
44 welcome to it. This Difcovery may be an
44 Inftance of his Invention and Ingenuity \ but in
the reft of his Performance there is nothing
new or ingenious ', it being a meer catch -penny
Affair, making a fplendid Appearance, but
containing only what had long before been
44 hackney'd over and over in the public News-
44 papers, as is obferved by the Authors of the
44 Monthly Review^ whofe Judgment of Books
44 is allowed to be decifive.
44 But Thoufands of Teftimonies fignify juft
44 nothing againil Matters of Fact. While other
44 Provinces, neither half fo rich nor populous
44 as we, have furnifhed out their Thoufands of
44 brave Men in the general Caufe, we have not,
44 as a Province, armed a fingle Man, nor is there
44 any Probability that we mall. And yet had
44 the Confciences of our Affembly fuffered them
to fupport General Braddcck with two or three
Regiments of Pennfyfaanians, as we had Men
enough willing to go, and well accuftomed to
the Woods, his Army had, no doubt, been
fafe, and all our Expeditions fuccefsful.
Thefe are the Things that expofe our Af-
fembly to cenfure, and not any Party-refent-
*4 fent. All our Neighbours complain of us,
and look upon us as a dead Weight to the
14 general Caufe *, nay, as effectually ferving the
*4 Caufe of the Enemy. How often, and how
44 juftly has this Province been cenfured in the
44 Boflon and New-Tork News- papers •, and cer-
44 tainly the public Condemnation of our Neigh-
44 bours will weigh a thoufand Times more a-
44 gainft
t Publiflied by Mr. Dotfe?.
C(
K
Cf
<(
%4
(1
<c
cc
4(
[ l6]
gainft our Afiembly, than any obfcure Tefti-
monies for them, faid to be fent from England.
As an Inftance of the Opinion entertained of
this Province, by our Neighbours, as well as
46 the Encouragement which our Conduct gives
44 to the Enemy, I will add what a Gentleman
* of Rhode-Ifiand writes on the Subject.
tc I have, fays he, juft got into my Hands a
Copy of a Letter, written in June laft, from a
Gentleman in Montreal, to his Friend at Paris.
After a great many Schemes for extending the
Power of his Grand Monarque, he has the fol-
lowing remarkable PafTage, which I could not
*' forbear fending for the Perufal of your pacific
*' Pennfylvanians.
4 About a Century ago, fays the Frenchman,
* our Court, finding it impoflible to fubject the
* Englijh Nation to their Dominion, while they
* preferved their fierce and martial Spirit, pro-
* jected the following Scheme to break and fub-
* due that Spirit. A certain faithful Jesuit
* was fent to England, who gave out that he
* went for Confcience-fake. He pretended to a
* certain Light within, foon grew popular, and
* was the Means of founding a Sect of Quiet-
* ists or Non-resistants, who held it un-
* lawful to fpill ChrihYtan Blood, and, if you
4 fmote them on one Cheek, would turn the other
4 alfo.
4 For fome time there was a Profpect that
* this Seel would multiply exceedingly, and then
1 our Monarque would have made an eafy Con-
4 quell: of the whole Ifland of Britain. But in
4 this we were difappointed, for there were a
4 great many ftubborn Britons, who not only
4 refufed to embrace thefe ^uietift Principles,
4 but alfo found Means to exclude all thofe from
4 any
[ i7 J
any Places of Truft, who were known to hold
fuch Principles.
' Yet, my Friend, the good Scheme fcems
ftill in a fair Way to take Effect at laft. The
rich and extenfive Province of Pennfyhania is
chiefly fettled with the fame fort of People
(commonly called Quakers) and the Govern-
ment is entirely in their Hands ; fo that we
have erected feveral Fortifications far within the
Limits of their Province, without any Hin-
drance or Moleflation. We hear from our
faithful Mifiionaries among them, that this
meek and peaceable People are ferving us
mod effe ftually, refufing to grant any Money
to difpoffefs us, and finding means to intro-
duce Quarrels, and fpin out the Time. They
have a great Party of their own quieteft and
non-rtfifting Principles, among the Germans
in that Province, which is likewife much to
our Advantage. For my Correfpondents
write me from thence, that an Englifh Gene-
ral, being about to march againft our Forts>
had lent to Pennfyhania to hire Waggons with
his Mailer's Money, and that the forefaid
German ghtietefts, and our other Engitjb Friends
of the fame Principles, had refufed to carry
any Powder or Instruments of Death againlt
us •, but that they would meet us, like Lambs,
bringing us Bread and all forts of Provifions.
\ O, my Friend 1 were the rude Oliverians in
the Colonies to the Northward, as mild and
harmlefs *, what a fine thing it would be to
meet their Thousands, armed only with
Mutton, and Beef, and Bajkets of Sweetmeats. — -
< Never-
* There being two Tranflations of this Letter, there is *
Difference between them in fome Words.
[ 18 I
* Neverthelefs, we doubt not, when we have
* once opened a PafTage through the rich Pro-
* vince of Pennfylvania to the Sea (in which, as
* I told you, we expec.1 no Oppofition *) — I
■ fay when once this is accomplished, we doubt
* not but we fhall in a fhort Time, not only re-
c duce all the other Englijh Colonies, but the
c Mother-country alfo, her chief Strength and
* Support being once cut off. Thus you fee
c that the long- laid Plan may at laft be fuc-
* cefsful, to the Glory of our grand Monarque,
* and the fpreading abroad the Influence of our
* holy Catholic Church.' —
u The fame Rhode- TJland Gentleman (conti-
cc nues my Vindicator) adds further, that he has
<c in his Hands a whole Bundle of the faid
Frenchman's Letters, which he intends to pub-
lifh occafionally ; and he has accordingly given
u us one of them in the New-Tork Gazette,
" September 2 2d, in which is a Paragraph to the
" following Effed : "
* The Quakers and our good Friends the M<r~
* r avians, lays the vaunting Frenchman, refufe
c to take up Arms againft us •, and we are in-
4 formed that they are almoft half the Number
c of the Inhabitants in Pennfylvania. The other
6 half, we are told, confifts of a Variety of mon-
* grel Proteftants of different Nations, Butch,
c Germans, Palatines, intermixed with Shoals of
c our good Catholics, who have from time to
6 time fled into thefe Parts, or been tranfported
' from
* The Baron Viejlau, Commander of all the Trench
Forces in North America, and now a Priibner at New-York,
has frequently in Converfation declared to the Englijh Phy-
iicians, tffc. attending h.rn, that he never expected to meet
with any Reftiitance from the Government of Pcnnfylvaniz,
as he knew it to be in the Hands of People who are againit
bearing Arms.
[ 19 ]
* from Scotland and Ireland, efpecially into the
' Country or Baltimore (Maryland.)*
" Thus we fee that the Author of the Brief
<c State had Reafon to be jealous of thefe Fo-
<; reigners among us at this Time. Neverthe-
" Jeis, it is falfe to fay he reflects upon the whole
" Body of them. They certainly do not all de-
" lerve it ; and thofe who do, he pities rather
tc than blames, by (hewing that they have been
" made Tools of, and kept in the greateft Jg-
" norance, to ferve the Purpofes of Elections.
" Fie alio propofes a Scheme to inftruct them,
" and render them good Englijh Subjects, capa-
" ble of ufing their own Judgment, indepen-
" dent of all Parties •, for which they are cer-
" tainly obliged to him. But the Defign of this
" Exclamation on the Part of the Ailembly is
" obvious. It ferves to keep up a Party among
" thefe Germans for the enfuing Election, and is
" much eafier than a fair Refutation of Fads,
" to which the Writers on the other Side are
" here challenged, before they throw out any
" more general Inve&ives, either againft the
" Brief State, or its fuppofed Authors. And
ct that they may know what they are challenged
« to undertake, the Facts charged againft the
" Ailembly, and now almoft univerfally credit-
u ed, are as follows :
cc i ft, That Schemes of Politics are carried
u on, at a certain annual Cabal, commonly cal-
" led an yearly Meeting of Friends, for religious
" Purpofes.
tc 2d, That a great Majority of one particu-
cc lar Perfuafion, who are fcarce a Fifth of the
M People of this Province, and by their religi-
" ous Principles unqualified for Government,
" are kept in the Ailembly, by the Influence of
C 2 " the
tc
Cf
l(.
[20]
ct the aforefaid Cabal, to the Exclufion of Men
of fuperior Property and Qualifications.
3d, That many notorious Falfhoods and
corrupt Notions have been impudently ipread
among the People, and efpecially the Ger-
" mans, in order to iecure them in the lntereft
** of the faid Party at Elections.
" 4th, That our AfTembly, compofed of the
faid Party, have, in all their Debates, plainly
fhewn that they had no Intention to act like
<c the neighbouring Colonies, and grant Money
" for the King's Ufe.
*' 5th, That if the faid Party continue to keep
*c their Seats in AfTembly, the Province muit
" either be thrown into the Enemy's Hands, or
" the King and Parliament muft interfere, and
make Laws to put us into a Pofture of De-
fence, as well as to exclude the faid Party from
any future Share of that Government, which
they have fo grofsly abufed.
tc Thefe are the Charges againft our AfTembly
in the Brief State, and very heavy ones too,
but they are fupported with fuflicient Reafons.
And whenever any thing fhall be faid to inva-
<c lidate thefe Reafons, I who now write this,
am ready to defend them againft any Man, or
Sett of Men, who may think fit to enter into
the Controverfy.
" Who I am that fpeaks fo boldly will be the
Subject of much Enquiry, But that Trouble
may be fpared ; for I am never to be known
" po/itively, and negatively I am not the Author
" of the Brief State ; nor do I fetch and carry
for any great Man ; nor do I want his Din-
cc
ic
a
ct
tc
cc
«c
si
c.
it
<c ner, or his gracious Nod ; nor is it m the
u Power of any Party to prefer or difgrace me.
fC I am for myfelf -, embarked in the glorious
« Cawfe
[ » ]
" Caufe of Truth and Liberty. And, in
" fuch a Caufe, I would fpeak, if I could, in
" Thunder, till the Heart of Guilt trembles to
" pieces. I defire I may be called no Names ;
u for I fhall not give Names to any Body. I
" mall liften to Reafon, and always retract when
" convinced of an Error. But my Judgment
4C I will not give up to either Side ; nor is it for
" the Intereft of the Public that I mould give
cc it up. Great is the Power of Truth, and it
4C will prevail at laft, on which Side foever it
M lies."—
Thus far my Vindicator ; whofe fair Challenge
has never been accepted, nor has a fingle Word
appeared in Anfwer to his Five Charges. Indeed,
they are fo intimately known in this Province,
that it would be Madnefs to deny them. But left
that fhould be attempted on your Side of the
Atlantic y which they think it advifeable not to
attempt here, I fhall fubjoin a Series of Facts
and Anecdotes in fupport of each of the aforefaid
Charges, which I hope will difplay Quaker Poli-
tics in their true Colours.
Thtfirft and fecond, viz. That the yearly and
monthly Meetings of leading Quakers in this
Province are not entirely for fpiritual Purpofes ;
but that they are degenerated into political Ca-
bals, held the Week before our annual Election,
to fix the Choice of AfTembly-men, and iffue
out their Edifts to the feveral Meetings in the
Province. — Thefe Charges, I fay, want no Con-
firmation ; but if they do, I fhall fay fomething
more on that Head before I conclude.
The third and heavier!: Charge is, that the
Quakers have corrupted the Germans, and filled
them with Apprehenfions of Vaflalage and Sla-
very, in cafe they fhall ever agree to return any
other
[22]
other Men befides Quakers to fir in AfTembly.
In my former Letter I was very full upon this
important Article. I mentioned many of the
Falfhoods and wicked Infinuations continually
propagated among theft Foreigners for the Pur-
pofes of Elections, by means or a certain German
Printer, in Quaker -yzy. I told you a lib of the
great Increafe of German Sectaries of various De-
nominations, ail -principled againft Defence, and
encouraged by the Quakers ; and I might have
added, that for this Purpofe they have, from
time to time, diftributed Books and Pamphlets
among the faid Germans, and particularly Bar-
clay's Apology ; — all calculated to propagate thofe
non-rejijling Principles, which are plainly fubver-
iive or Society.
But of all others, the German News- paper is
a never- failing Channel of Corruption. Very
lately, at a time when we were alarmed from
every Quarter, the People were told in that Pa-
per, that they had nothing to fear from the Ene-
my ; and that when the French and their Indians
fhould come down againft us, " that Man was
" bled who could open his Door to them, or
cc run out to meet them with Bread and Milk;"
but to rejifi, or have recourfe to the weak Arm
of Flefh, would of courfe be downright Pre-
sumption.
Nor are thefe the Doctrines of the Prefs alone. The
fame are alfo inculcated by every Quaker -preacher
throughout the Province. On the firft News of the
Defeat of the late General Braddock, when Terror
and Confirmation fat in every Face ; when our
Women and Children were in Tears, and every
honeft Heart was bleeding for the Country's Di-
ftrefs, and deeply forrowful with the Thoughts
that many brave Men, allied to fome of the bed
Families
[ *3 ]
Families in England, had fpilfc their generous
Blood in fighting our Battles lor us ; — at I
very time, I lay, the mod noted Qjjdkertpreachtt
in this City, exhorted his numerous Audience- ro
adhere firmly to their Principles, and neiehei to
adt in Defence, nor in any Shape to conf.nl
" thereto. — " For, lays he, if the Potfherds
•• the Earth clam together, what is that to to £"i
— Infatuated Enthufialls! Who made them more
righteous or more holy than others ? Who fepa-
rated them trom the Men of the Earth, or Jet
them apart as the Chosen of God, to be de-
fended by Miracles, without the ordinary Mean
My Soul rifes at fitch hcrrid Doctrine I I cannot
f wallow it ! Shall they reap the Benefit of So-
ciety, not only without contributing to its De-
fence, but even infulting the Memory of thole
brave Men who fought, and who feil to main-
tain them in Eafe, nay in Infolence ? Avery Brute
would fhew fome Token of Gratitude, — fome
Remembrance of a Kindnefs received !
But to corrupt the religious and fpeculative
Notions of the People is but little, compared to
the alienating their Affections from the GofN
ment they live under, by infinuating that t!
are in Danger of Vaffalage, and the very w:
of Slavery. Yet even this is done by the Ai-
iembly themfelves in a Meffage of Auguft the
19th. — " What, fay they, fnould hinder the
" Proprietors another Year to require us to
" plough their Lands, alledging the Uiage and
ct Cuftom in Germany, and putting us in Mind
cc that we are chiefly Germans ? — This is hot
U merely Vaffalage! It is worfe than any Vaf-
<c falage we have heard of! It is even more fia-
ct vifli than Slavery itfelf!" — Is not this afto-
nifhing ? Would you believe the Men in their
Senfes
4
[ 24]
Senfes who could write in fuch a Strain ? Does
not the Language itfelf prove that we are in full
Pofieflion ot Liberty^ even to Licentioufnefs ?
Are we not fecured by wife Laws both againft
Vajfalage and Slavery? And have not the Ger-
mans an equal Security by thefe Laws ? Can there
be the leaft Danger of Vaflalage or Slavery in any
Part of the Britijh Empire ? And is it not nearly
a- kin to Treafon itfelf to work upon the Fears
of thofe poor Foreigners who have taken Refuge
among us, and to defbroy their Confidence in us,
by telling them they are juft on the Brink of
falling back again into that Vaflalage and Sla-
very, from which many of them fled, as from
the moft intolerable of all Evils ? Can thofe Men
ever be forgiven, who, to icrvc rheir own dirty
Purpofes, can thus corrupt a whole People, and
inftil Notions into an ignorant and credulous
Multitude, which are perhaps never to be re-
moved, and are fo much the more dangerous as
coming from thofe whom they have chofen as
the Guardians of their Liberty ? What would not
fuch Men infinuate privately on other Occafions,
when we fee they do not fcruple thus publickly
to confound, to diftracT, and to divide the Peo-
ple, at a time when their Country was bleeding
beneath the Outrages of a favage Enemy, and
when every Hand and Heart ought rather to
have been ftrengthened and united in the general
Caufe ? Surely nothing need be added to put
this third Charge of corrupting and alienating the
Germans* beyond all poflible Doubt !
The fourth Charge is, that in all their Debates
the Aflfembly have plainly (hewn, that they had
no Intention to act like their Neighbours, and
grant Money for the general Defence of the Co-
lonies. This will belt appear from an Abitract
of
[ 25 ]
of their Debates themfclves, which for that Rea-
fun, I laid before you in my lad, down to the
Month of December 1754 \ the mod remarkable
of thofe that have fubfifted fince that time are
briefly laid together by the Governor himfelf, in
a MelTage of November 22, 1755; which, as it
is in many Hands, I have procured a Copy of,
altho' it has not been yet printed, nor anfwered,
that I hear of —
After replying to fome Objections which they
had made to his Propofal of taxing the Pro-
prietors by a feparate Bill, with a lu (pending
Claufe, till his Majefty's Pleafure fhould be
known, he fums up the whole as follows :—
u Gentlemen,
" In this, as well as in fome other MeiTag^s,
" you affect to treat me as a Stranger, and tell
me that it is at lealt probable you are more
deeply concerned for the Didreifes of this Coun-
try than I am, becaufe mod of you are Na-
tives of it, and have your Eftates in it. I am
furprized, Gentlemen, that you do not blufh
<; to have Recourfe to fuch weak and fallacious
" Reafoning. Although I was not born within
f* the Limits of this Province, I was born in its
" Neighbourhood. Nay, the chief Part of my
" Eltate lies much nearer to this City, than the
" Eftates of fome of you, who fit in AfTembly >
tc and when your Eftates are in Danger, I can by
" no means think mine fafe. And here I would
" obferve, that if the Confideration of being
bred up among you, and poffelTing large Pro-
perty in the Province, could have lecured
" your good Treatment of any Governor, my
" immediate * Predecefibr had the faireft Claim
D " to
* James Hamilton, Efq» our late Governor.
ice
[26]
M to fuch Treatment, and would have been ex-
wc empred from thofe manifold Abufes, which
" it has been his Let, as well as mine, to re-
cc ceive at your Hands. — But I conceive, Gen-
ct tlemen, that our Actions, not the Piace of
" our Eftates or Nativity, are the beft Teft of
" our Affection for this Country. You will
4C fuffer me, therefore, briefly to review your
cc Conduct and mine, and to leave them both to
" fpeak for themfelves.
" And here, was I inclined to go beyond my
cc own Times, I might begin with reminding
" you, how contemptuously you treated the Pro-
" prietary- offer of four hundred Pounds, for
" erecting a Place of Strength on the Ohio, to-
*c gether with an Offer of one hundred Pounds
" per Annum towards its Support \ which Offers
" were made at a Time, when your Concurrence
" would probably have prevented many of the
u Calamities, we now groan under.
" 1 might alfo obferve, that when Mr. Ha-
<c milton firfb called upon you, purfuant to his
" Majcfty's Orders, to grant fuch Supplies as
" would enable him to draw forth the Strength
" of the Province, and to repel Force by Force,
cc you would not admit that the French En-
cc croachments and Fortifications on the Ohio
4C were within our Limits, or his Majefty's Do-
" minions •, thereby feeking an Excufe to avoid
*' doing what was required of you. And when
" after the Lofs of much Time, you thought
" fit to drop this Difpute, you then entered upon
" a frefli one, concerning cite Legality of royal
" Infractions', in order ftill to gain more Time,
Ci and avoid doing what you judged inconfiftent
tc with your Principles. Neverthelefs, it is clear,
u that if you had complied with Mr. Hamilton's
« Re*
It
u
[ 27 ]
" Requeft, and given feafonably, what Money
" the Fxcife could raife in the Term he pro-
" pofed, the French might have been prevented
Ci from (lengthening themfelves, in their pre-
M fent unwarrantable Encroachments.
" On my Acceilion to the Government you
begun upon the Tame Plan of Difpute and
Delay, but as I am informed that there was
a full and itrong Reprefentation, both of your
*' Conduct and mine, lb far as related to the
M Difputcs, in the Beginning of my Admini-
4C ft ration, laid before his Majefty in a Report
M of the Lords Commiffioners of Trade, upon
"youf Addrtis concerning lnllructions, I fhall
" go no farther back than December lad.
" On the nineteenth of that Month I com-
municated to you a Letter from Sir Thomas
Robinfon, notifying his Majefty's Intentions of
employing four Regiments, for the Defence
and Security of theft Colonies, to be railed and
augmented in America, and requiring a Sum
of Money towards a general Fund, and to have
three thoufand Men in readinef% with a pro-
" per Quantity of Provifions, &c. the whole
" to be under the Direction of a general Officer
" of Character, who was to be fent as Com-
<c mander in Chief of all his Majefty's Forces
" in thefe Parts*, but you did not think fit to
•' raife a fingle Man, or give one Farthing of
" Money, in compliance with this Requeft. I
ic did alio at the fame Time recommend it to
'• you, to prepare a Law for regulating the
Wages to be paid for fuch Tradefmen, Horles
and Carriages, as it might be neceilary to im-
prefs into his Majefty's Service, lb this you
replied, That you could not prefume the
military Officers would, or ought to have, any
C 2 4t Power
4C
<C
(4
<:
M
(C
< C
[ 23 ]
<l Power of imprefiing Tradefmen, within this
44 Province," — tc and that the other Parts of
"my Mefiage might remain under Confidera-
'c tion, without any confiderable Inconvenience.
tC As foon as the late General arrived, I again
" recommended it to you, to make an imme-
" diate Provifion for raifing the Men and fup-
" plying the Money, and other Neceflaries ex-
*• pected from this Province •, and did through-
4i out the whole Summer, from time to time,
" prefs you to grant your Aid and Afiiftance,
" to the Expeditions then on Foot. But you
" had one general Anfwer for all, namely, that
" if fome Bill, which you had always ready
" to offer, for (Inking a Sum of Money, for
" the King's Ufe, mould once be palled, it
*' would anfwer all the Purpofts required of you •,
" and yet every of thofe Bills were all the while
M liable to one and the fame Objection, on the
<; Footing of the Royal Inftructions. And, be-
" fides this, you never took the lead Notice of
*« the Demand for a Supply of Men, which,
ct from this populous Province, was, at leaft, as
" material an Article as Money.
" At laft, upon the Defeat of his Majefty's
" Forces, for want of that timely Support and
w AfMance, which it was in the Power of this
" Province to have afforded, I laid before you,
" in the ftrongeft Terms, the Dangers to which
this Country flood expofed ; and called upon
you, to put it into a Pofture of Defence, that
the People might be fecured againft the In-
M vafions, naturally to be expected, in confe-
" que nee of that Defeat. But all this was to
" no Purpofe. However, having been informed
" of the Report of the Lords of "Trade againft
" your Addrefs, and that your Conduct was
" generally
[ 29 ]
" generally condemned in England, you thought
<c fit to drop the old Difpute concerning In-
•■ ftruclions, and to Hart a new one, about tax-
cc ing the Proprietary Eftate, which you very
" well knew I had no Power by my Com million
*c to do. Befides, as the Proprietaries were ab-
<c fent, and this your extraordinary Claim, rc-
" lated to a Matter of Property, and was con-
" trary to a Law in Force, you could not ima-
" gine that it would be eafily given up, or
" fpeedily determined; and therefore, you could
W propofe nothing by it, but> as ufual, to evade
Cl the Point of raifing an armed Force, and grant-
" ing the neccfTary Supplies.
M Laftly, when in Confiderat'on of the Di-
cc (IrelTes of this unhappy Country, I have con-
" fenred even to exceed the Powers of my Com-
" miiTion, in order to lay that Difpute before
" his Majefty, by a feparate Bill for that par-
" ticular Purpofe, you ftart a new Claim, un-
«< known to former Alfembles, of having your
" Bills, giving Money, pafled without Amend-
« ments ; and upon no better Foundation than
«« this imaginary Privilege, you refufe the ne-
*■ cefTary Afliftance to your bleeding Country.
" And now, Gentlemen, give me Leave to
" exprefs my Satisfaction at your intended Com-
" plaint againft me, and to aiTure you, that no-
u thing gives me greater PLafure than the Mopes
" of having my Conduct and yours, laid before
" the Crown, where, I hope, they will both un-
" dergo the flricleif. Examination •, and, as I
" expect no Favour from you, fo I am noc
" afraid of the utmofl: Efforts of your Malice,
" being confeious to my ft If that I have done
" nothing to the Prejudice of the People com-
u mitted to my Care, nor neglected any thing
" in
[ 30]
~ i.
in my Power that could tend to their Security
wC and lafting Happinefs.
" Upon the whole, it appears to me, that
you never intended that any of your Bills
fhould pafs, for raifing Money to defend the
Province ; and this feems now to be placed
beyond all Difpute, fince thofe People, iinda
whofe influence you are chiefly known to be,
are laid to have declared publickly to you,
that they would fooner fuffer, than pay towards
fuch Purpofes *,
However, I fhall put one Proof mere, both
of your Sincerity and mine, in our Profeffions
of Regard for the Public, by offering to agree
to any Bill, in the prefent Exigency, which
it is confident with my Duty to pafs 5 left be-
fore our prefent Difputes can be brought to
" an IfTue, we fhould neither have a Privilege to
difpute about, nor a Country to difpute in." —
So far, in general, it appears they intended to
evade the Point of giving Monty for Defence -y
becatife againft their own Principles, and the
Principles of thofe on whom they depend for
their Seats in Affembly, as mail be clearly made
out before I conclude.
In the mean time, you will perhaps think it
ftrange to hear the Aflembly accuftd, in the a-
bove Extract, of refufing to furnifh the late Ge-
neral with Waggons, Horfes, &c. as you have
read in the Englijh News-papers, that they fur-
nifhed every thing of this kind chearfully and
feafonably. But this is to be marked down as
one of thofe political Falfhoods, which, by fome,
are thought to be very innocent Things, when
the Good of a Party is promoted thereby.
The
* See below the Petition of the Heads of the Quaker-
:ngy praying the Affembly not to dejend &e Country.
u
a
».;
«. 1
<. c
< i
cc
cc
cc
CC
CC
CC
cc
c<
cc
[3i ]
The Matter of Fact, with regard to the Wag-
gons is plainly this. When the General arrived
at Fort Cumberland, he expected to have found
every thing ready for his March towards Fort da
tefne. Virginia and Maryland had promifed to
farnifh ibme Carriages, but the Truth is, they
were not able, having but few Waggons, and
very bad Horfes. Pcnnjylvanih was the only
Province capable of fupplying a fufficient Num-
ber of Carriages, and a Quantity of Provifions.
For this Realbn, the Governor, as he fays in
his MefTage, had before and after the General's
Arrival, called on our AfTembly to make a proper
Provifion in this Refpect •, which they ought the
more readily to have done, as the feveral neigh-
bouring Provinces had, at a great Expence,
railed a proper Number of Troops for the gene-
ral Service •, while our AfTembly did not raife a
Tingle Man, and only provided Tome Provifions,
with a few Prefents oT Horfes, &c. to gain the
good Graces of the Officers, who were Taid to
be much enraged at their Conduct, as an Af-
fcmbly. —
But every Call of this Kind was ineffectual.
The General few the Seafon far advanced, with
very little ProTpect of being enabled to proceed
on his Defign. He, therefore, expreffed great
DifTatisfaction to Sir John Sinclair, the Deputy-
quarter-mafter-general, on Account of the Dis-
appointments he had met with from every Hand.
Sir John, finding that nothing was to be done
without Compulfion, threatened to march down
into the Province, as into an Enemy's Country.*
if we did not immediately fend a Tufficient Num-
ber of Waggons and Horfes, to expedite the
March of the Army.
It
[32]
It happened at that time that Benjamin Frank-
lin* Efq* Deputy -pod- m after-general of North
America, was near the Army, having gone back
to fettle a Poft at the Expence of this Province,
between the back Parts of Virginia, and the City
of Philadelphia, for the better Intelligence dur-
ing the Troubles on that Quarter. This inge-
nious and valuable Citizen, forefeeing the bad
Confequences of an Impreftion of Carriages by a
military Power in this Province, without the
Authority of the civil Power thereof, and know-
ing that the People might eafily be induced to
furnifh every thing of this Nature, if the pro-
per Steps were taken with them •, — I fay, from
thefe Confiderations, Mr. Franklin thought it
his Duty to apply to the General, and beg a
fhort Time to try what he could do among his
Countrymen by way of Perfuafion. The Gene-
ral was pleafed with the Motion, and put a Sum
of Money into his Hands, with full Powers to
contract for one hundred and fixty Waggons,
and a proper Number of Carriage-horfes.
Mr. Franklin returned, with all poffible Dif-
patch, to the Borough of Lancafier, in the Heart
of the Province, where he luckily met Mr.
Chief Jujiice Allen, and the two other Judges,
with a great Concourfe of People, it being at the
Time of holding a Court of Oyer and Terminer.
He communicated his Scheme to Mr. Alien,
who, with his ufual Franknefs and great Public-
fpirit, heartily engaged to affift him •, and did
accordingly, with much Addrefs, open the Mat-
ter to the People from the Bench, fetting forth
to them, in the warmeft Terms, the Duty they
owed to their Sovereign, who had graciouQy
undertaken this expenfive Expedition Tor their
i-xn-
[ 33 1
immediate Safety •, at the fame time reprefenting
the Diftrefs and Difgrace that would fall upon the
Province in cafe of a Refufal to do what was io
much in our Power. He then directed the Con-
itables of the feveral Townfhips to return home,
and call the People together, in order, as foon as
poffible, to fend in an Account of the Number
of Horfes and Waggons they could reflectively
furnifh. This Example was followed by the Ju-
flices in the County of Tork^ their Court then
fitting.
At the fame time Mr. Franklin publifhed, in
Dutch and Englijh, a very well -adapted Adver-
tifement, telling the People how great a Sum of
good Englijh Gold they might earn, during the
Campaign, by a Compliance j not forgetting to
put them in Mind, that if Sir John St. Clair,
the Hujfary mould comedown among them, they
might once more fee the Dragoonings of Germany
acted over again, and be forced into a Compli-
ance, without having any Opportunity of mani-
fefting their free Regard for the Good of their
Country, and the Honour of their Sovereign.
Such an Application to the People by two
Gentlemen of the bed Characters in the Province,
enforced alfo by the Recommendation of the fe-
veral County Magiftrates, immediately procured
the Number of Carriages that were wanted ; and
four times as many more might have been pro-
cured, if neceiTary.
Our AfTembly had fo little to do in all this,
that they were not fitting at the time. Mr.
Franklin was not commiffioned by them, but by
the General. The Waggoners were not to be
paid by the Province, but by the King ; and a
very great Sum is (till due to the poor People on
this Account, who in the unhappy Action loll
E their
[34]
their Horfes and Carriages, which were all that
many of them had to depend upon for the Sub-
fiftence of their Families. Mr. Franklin, who
has taken the greateft Pains in this v/hole Affair,
without the leaft Recompence, but the Satisfac-
tion of ferving his Country, has, however, ob-
tained an Order from General Shirley to pay thefe
poor People their feveral Accounts, as foon as
they can be audited and adjufted by proper
Perfons.
This is a true State of the Cafe ; and our Af-
fembly inftead of arrogating Praife to themfelves,
becaufe the Province furnifhed the neceffary Car-
riage?, ought rather to bear the higheft Blame.
For as the Province was fo able to provide every
thing of this kind, they were the more inex-
cufable in not making fuch a Provifion. And it
is clear, that if at the Governor's early Requeft,
they had made a Law to regulate the Price of
Carriages, &c. if it fhourd be necefifary to im-
prefs them, a fingle Juftice of the Peace might,
on the fir ft Notice, have fent the General what
Carriages he defired •, by which Means he might
have begun his March before the Woods were
covered with Leaves, and got to Fort du ^uefne
long before the Reinforcement of the Enemy;
which might in all Probability have given a very
different Turn to our Affairs \ and therefore I
leave you to judge, whether a great Part of our
bad Succcfs may not juftly be afcribed to the un-
neceftary Delays, arifing from the Want of Car-
riages.
The next thing for which cur AfTembly are
highly blameable, was their Treatment of a free
Offer of Lands, on the Weft of the Allegheny
Mountains, made by the Proprietaries, for the
jnore effectual Removal of the French from therr
En*
[ 35 ]
Encroachments on the River Ohio. The Go-
vernor was particularly empowered to make this
Offer, at fuch a time as he fhould judge it mod
for the public Service. Now, while the Expedi-
tion was carrying on by the Crown, under General
Braddock, he could not think fuch an Offer either
feafonable or necefTary, for federal Reafons.
Firft, It was hoped that the Bufinefs would be
accomplished by his Majefty's Troops.
Secondly, If the Affembly refufed to co-operate
with the Crown, and raiie the Men demanded of
them, as being contrary to their Principles, the
Governor was certain that they never would con-
cur with the Proprietors in any Scheme of a
like Nature. But, as foon as he heard of the
General's Defeat, and knowing that nothing more
could be attempted on the Part of the Crown
during that Campaign, as Colonel Dunbar was
marching with the Remainder of the Army to-
wards the City of Philadelphia, the Governor then
thought that the proper Seafon for making the
Offer of Lands, and fetting a new Expedition on
foot (on the Part of this Province) was come ;
and he hoped that the Diftrefs and great Danger
to which the Country was now expofed, would
difpofe the Affembly readily to concur in fiich a
promifing Meafure. He did, therefore, accor-
dingly fend the following Meffage to them, dated
July the 23th, 1 755.
Gentlemen,
tc On the prefent Emergency, I think it pro-
per, on the Part of the Proprietaries, to pro-
pofe, as an additional Encouragment to fuch
Perfons as fhall now engage and go upon an
Expedition from this, or the neighbouring
Provinces, to remove the French trom their
E 2 tc En-
cc
<c
IC
«£
it
[ 36]
<c Encroachment on the River Ohio, to grant
•* the following Quantities of Land Weft of the
<c Allegheny Mountains, without any Purchafe-
44 money, and with an Exemption from the Pay-
" ment of Quit-rent for the Space of fifteen Years
44 from the fir ft Day of March next, viz.
Acres.
44 To every Colonel — 1000
44 To every Lieutenant-colonel and 7
44 Major — — 3 75°
w To every Captain — • — 500
44 To every Lieutenant and Enfign /,oo
44 To every common Soldier — 200
44 The faid Lands to be patented to the re-
41 fpe&ive Officers and Soldiers, their Heirs or
44 Affigns, without any Fees or Charges butthofe
46 of furveying; on Condition of Settlement
" within the Space of three Years after the Re-
44 moval of the French. And I do recommend
44 it to you, to afford fome Affiftance to fuch
44 as mall incline to accept of the above Terms,
44 and make Settlements accordingly."
In Anfwcr to this, the Affembly immediately
publilhed a moft fcurrilous MefTage, telling the
People, — 4C that the Offer was a meer Illufion
44 and Impofture •, — that the Governor had no
44 Authority to make any fuch Offer ; — that if
44 they accepted of it, the Proprietors', when the
44 Patents were to iffue, might demand a Quit-
44 rent greater than the Worth of the Lands ; —
44 that the Virginia vacant Lands were equally
44 good, more convenient, and to be had on
44 better Terms." —
Thus did they treat an Offer which would have
been productive of the beft Confequences ; and
thus alfo, by the moft falfe and ground lei's Infi-
nuations,
[37 3
nuations, were the Men difcouraged, who would,
in all Probability, very readily have accepted of
fuch an Offer. I faid falfe and ground lefs Infi-
nuations ; for it could not be thought, that the
Governor would make the Offer without fufficient
Power io to do. And with regard to the Quit-
rent, they were told that it would be no more
than the ordinary Quit-rent, which was well
known to be Four-fhillings and Two- pence Ster-
ling, for one hundred Acres ; and laltly, it was
expreQy faid, that the Patents were to be granted
without any Fee or Expence to the Adventurers.
Moreover, the vacant Lands in Virginia were,
by no means, comparable to the exceeding fruit-
ful Lands of Pennsylvania, on the other Side of the
Allegheny Mountains, upon and near the River
Ohio. But even fuppofing the Lands were
equally good, certainly the intrinfic Goodnefs of
Lands is not the only Confideration that deter-
mines their Price. This depends upon the En-
cumbrances under which Lands are purchafed,
together with feveral other Circumftances ; and,
therefore, if our AfTembly had been hearty in
the Intereft of the Province they reprefent, they
would have given a fair State of the Cafe, and
upon comparing our Lands to thofe of Virginia ,
would have acknowledged that the latter are not
only, upon the whole, worfe in Quality, but en-
cumbered with the Support of an eftablifeed Clergy y
as well as a certain heavy Import upon the Pro-
duce of every Eftate in the Colony j — all which
we are entirely exempted from. And indeed
the People are fo fenfible of this Advantage, that
they always prefer a Settlement in Pennsylvania,
to a Settlement in any of the Provinces around
us. And whenever any of the People migrate
from this to any other Province, it is entirely be-
caufe
[38 ]
caufe all our good Lands on this Side the Al-
legheny Mountains are moftly taken up -, and the
AfTembly have conltantly oppofed every former
Meafure, as well as the prefenr, for extending
our Settlements on the other Side of the faid
Mountains, becauie this cannot be done without
an armed Force, at lealt tor fome time; which,
as has been frequently obferved, being by no
means conformable to their particular Plan of
Policy, has been the Source of all our Mis-
fortunes.—
But to return to the Difputes about raifing
of Money, which have fubfifted for near two
Years. The Governor, on the 28th of July,
fent another Meffage to the Affembly, befeeching
them to confider, — " that the Retreat of the
U Army, under Colonel Dunbar, would leave the
6i Back-fettlements entirely expofed to the In-
" curfions of the French and Indians -, who being
<c flufhed with their late Victory, and encouraged
'■ by our defencelefs State, would penetrate deep
c' into the Province, murdering the Inhabitants,
" or driving them from their Habitations (as has
alas ! been too fatally felt.) Wherefore he
earneftly recommended to them to fall upon
fpeedy Meafures for the Protection of the
" People, and the Security of the Province."
As there never was a more urgent Occafion
than this, it was hoped that the AiVembly would
be touched with the bleeding State ot their Coun-
try, and grant it immediate Relief, in a manner
that could admit of no Dilpute. But how great-
ly were we difappointed to find a new Dilpute
introduced about taxing the Proprietary Eltate,
intimating in a Meffage thereupon to the Gover-
nor, that it would be in vain to propoie any
other Matters to their Confideration, till that
was
it
ct
tc
[ 39 1
was previoufly fettled. And yet the Country
was all the while in the utmoil Diftrefs ; and they
well knew that as the Difpute related to a Matter
of Proper ty, it could neither, in Law nor Rea-
fon, be fettled by any Perfon but the real Owners
of the Property itfelf ^ who were at three thou land
Miles Diftance, very little imagining that fuch
an unfeafonable Time would be chofen to intro-
duce a new Claim againft their Eftate, which was
not only contrary to the Ufage of all former Af-
femblies, but even to a pofitive Law of the Pro-
vince itfelf.
The Governor, therefore, refilled his AfTent
to the Bill they fent him on this Emergency, for
raifing fifty thoufand Pounds by a Tax on all
Eftatcs real and perfonal within the Province -,
and in the Courfe of the Debates thereupon, it
appears that he grounded his Refufal chiefly on
the following Reafons :
ill. By the Nature of his CommiMion, he was
only empowered to reprefent the Proprietaries as
Governor of the Province, but not as Landlord
of their Eftate ♦, and therefore he judged that
any Act of his to encumber or alienate any Part
of that Eftate, without the exprefs Confent of the
real Owners, would be void in itfelf.
2dly, Admitting that he had fuch Power over
the proprietary Eftate, he would have refufed
his AfTent to the Bill ; becaufe all Governors,
whether hereditary or otherwife, having Reve-
nues granted them to fupport the Dignity of
Government, and enable them to do the Duties
of their Station, ought to be exempted from
Taxes in the common Method. For,
3diy, If a chief Governor were taxed in the
ordinary Method, by Affeffors chofen wholly by
the People, his private Property, which is Part
of
[ 40 ]
of his necefifary Support, would not only be ren-
dered precarious, but he would be deprived of
the mod ejj'ential Right enjoyed by every other
Freeman \ and would be taxed by Per fons in
whofe Choice he is allowed no Voice, as being a
diftinct Branch in Legijlation, and therefore fup-
^ofed to reprefent himfclf in every Act of Go-
vernment.
4thly, The Proprietaries of this Province in
particular, did confent to a Law for veiling the
People wi:h thefole Choice of AfTeiTors, with an
exprefs Provifo that the Proprietary- eitate fhould
be exempted from all Taxes to be laid by fuch
AfTeiTors, in the Choice of whom they referved
no Voice. It would, therefore, be highly un-
reafonable for the People to claim the Privilege
fecured to them by this Law, and at the fame
time to violate the Conditions by which the Pro-
prietaries thought tktmklvcs fceure in confenting
to fuch a Law.
5thly, The AiTembly's Argument, that the
Oath or Affirmation of the AfTeiTors, is fufficient
Security for the Proprietors, is entirely foreign
to the Purpofe ; becaufe, by the Tame Reafon-
ing, every ether Freeman might think himfelf
equally fecure in fuch Oath or Affirmation, with-
out claiming the valuable Privilege of being taxed
oily by his own Reprefentative.
6thiy, Such a Method is not only repugnant
to Reafon, but to the Spirit of the Enghjh Law,
which, notwithstanding the Solemnity of an
Oath, excepts both againft the Judgment and
Evidence of interefied Perfons, as capable of be-
ing byaiTed. But every Perfon, who can be an
AiTeflor in this Province, is intcreftcd, in fome
Shape or another, to eafe his own Eitate, by
throwing as much as poffible of the public Bur-
den
[ 4i J
den upon the Eftate of the Proprietors, who
have not that Security for a juft AlIeH'menc,
which every other Freeman has, in being capable
to become Aireflbrs in their Turn, as well as to
oppofe the tuture Choice of any partial or unjuft
AfTcifors. And there can be no good Real on
why the Proprietors, or chief Governors of this
Province, mould be the only Perfons in it, who
are deprived of the legal Security and moil effen-
tial Rights of Freemen.
7thly, The Aflembly's Argument, that the
Lords in Parliament think their Eflates fufficienrly
fecure, altho' they are a diftinct Branch of the
Legiflature, and taxed by AlTefTors chofen by the
People, is mere Illufion, and contrary to Fafr.
For it is well known, that it has always been
" one of the diftinguifhing Privileges of the
" Peers of Great-Britain, that they can never
<c be aflefTed towards the /landing Militia of the
" Nation, but by fix or more of themfelves."
And this is the very Point in Difpute. Befides,
both Lords and Commons in England have their
peculiar Rights and Privileges, fixed by the
Conflitution, ripened by Time, and approved
by the Wifdom of Ages •, and, as the Lords and
Commons do not compofe the whole of the Bri-
tijh Legiflature, they cannot (land in the fame
Relation, one to another, as a chief Governor
and AfTcmbly of this Province do, who make
up our whole Legiflature. It is, therefore, poor
Reafoning to plead for a Similarity of Ufage,
where there is not a Similarity of the Circum-
(lances upon which the Ufage is founded. —
Tho* thefe were furflcient Reafons for reject-
ing the Law in Quellion •, yet I am far from
denying the Equity of the Proprietaries bearing
a Part in the general Burden for the Defence of
F the
t4* 1
the Province. The Proprietaries have never
been backward in this Refpect, and are yearly at
a very confiderable Expence in Affairs of Go-
vernment. But that the Aflembly mould dictate
to them both the Quantum and Mode of this their
Expence, appears not only unreafonable, but de-
ftructive of the very Nature of mixt Govern-
ment. For as all Power muft have a Foundation
in Property^ it is plain that whenever our Aflem-
bly (hall get the Proprietary Eftate fubjected to
their Mercy, they will be able to compleat their
democratical Schemes of Power, by having their
chief Governor for ever afterwards dependent
upon them, as moft of the fubordinate Officers
in the Province already are.
Thus flood the Difpute at the firft of Otlobery
the Time fixed by Charter for the annual Elec-
tion of Members of Aflembly, when the very
fame Men were returned into the new Aflembly,
by the ufual Artifices * •, excepting one or two
Member?, who having always been for Defence^
and finding that they could do no Good by keep-
ing their Seats, declined ferving any longer. Of
courfe this new Aflembly took up the Difpute
juft where they had left it. Nothing now re-
mained but the diftrefling Profpect of continuing
to lie at the Mercy of cruel Savages, with our
Hands tied up, at lead, for one Year longer,
by the abfurd Principles of our own Legiflature,
who ought to have protected us.
The principal Inhabitants of Philadelphia^ to-
gether with fuch of the Inhabitants of the feveral
Counties, as had a juft Senfe of the Dangers to
which we lay expofed, being now alarmed to
the laft Degree, law no Expedient left but hum-
bly
* Seethe Brief State for ar; Account of the Methods by
y/hich the Quakers iecure their Elections.
[ 43 ]
bly to lay their diftreifed Condition once more +
at his Majefty's Feet, and implore his gracious
Compafllon and Protection.
I wifh I could favour you with a Copy of their
Petition, as it is faid to contain a very finking
Reprefentation of the DiftrefTes and Dangers of
the Province. But the Subfcribers of it do not
think themfelves at Liberty to make it public
till his Majefty's gracious Pleafure fhall be figni-
tied thereupon. In general, it fets forth the
great Confternation of the Inhabitants on ac-
count of the naked and defencelefs State of the
Province, at a Seafon of fo imminent Danger,
when they expected every Day to be attacked by
Blood-thirfty Savages, a mere Handful of whom
might, without the leaft Refiftance, carry Fire
and Sword into the very Heart of the Country.
It farther fets forth their hearty Concern at fee-
ing the Hamds of many Thoufands of brave
Men tied up in this Province, by an unnatural
Scheme of Policy , at a Time when all our Neigh-
bours were purchafmg immortal Renown in the
Field of Honour.
It intimates that our pacific Meafures and de-
fencelefs State, had alienated our Indian Friends
from us, and encouraged the ambitious Mea-
fures of our French Enemies •, and laftly, that it
is not probable this Province can ever be brought
to purfue different Meafures, while the Quakers*
whofe avowed Principles are againft bearing
Arms* find Means to keep their Seats in AfTem-
bly, by a grofs Abufe of the Foreigners fettled
among us. And therefore, the Petitioners fee
no pofllble Method of faving the Province but
by his Majefty's Royal Interpofition, to put ic
F 2 into
•f- A like Petition was prefented during the laft War, juft
before the Commencement of the Peace of Aix la Cbapelle.
[ 44 ]
ihto a Pofture of Defence, and provide for its
future * Security in fuch a Manner as (hall be
deemed mod for the public Good.
This Petition was immediately figned in the
City, and in fome of the Counties near it, by a
very confiderable Number of the principal Inha-
bitant?, and dilpatched in a Ship that iay ready
to fail tor London. Had the Time permitted, a
very great Number would have figned it in the
back Counties alfo, who were more immediately
interefted in it; but alas! before the Copies could
reach them, all the Fears of Danger, which ic
exprefled, were too fataliy realized.
For, about the Middle of Ottober, a large
Body of Indians, chiefly Shawonefe, Delazvares,
&c. f (their Numbers uncertain) fell upon this
Province
* This as I have more than once obferved is only to be
done by an Oath or Qualification, excluding all thofe from
any Share of Government whole Principles render them unfit
for that which is the great End' of Government — die De-
fence and Protection of the Governed.
j Thefe Nations were formerly our Friends : But as they
are under the Subjection of the fix confederate Nations, the
French have put the Hatchet into their Hand'againft us, with
a Promife cf making them Men again (/'. e. an independent
People) and lettering them to their former PofTefiions, which
they have fold to the Englijh. But the chief Caufe of their
.Defection from the Interefts of this Province is our pacific
Scheme's of Policy in Times of the greater!: Danger, and our
repeated Refufal to give them that Protection and Afiiftance
which they have fo often requelled from us. For, by the
Inhumanity and Perfidy of our French Enemies, Scalping
i- become* the Trade of India, :s, and as they find it a profita-
ble Trade, tile Time of War is the Indian Harvejl. Where-
fore, as they can neither be 'die nor neuter, they will work
for thole who pay rhem beft. and feem to have moft Cou-
rage to protect them ; regardlefs of Leagues, or the higheft
Obligations. And, indeed, while we refufe to fight <ixith
tluv;, we cannot think that they will fight alone for us9
againit the whole Power of the Frtncbt and their numerous
Tribes of Indians. On the contrary, they mult look upon
us as a pusillanimous People, and make the belt Terms they
eau with our more active and enterprizing Enemies.
[45]
Province from feveral Quarters almofl: at the fame
Inftanr, murdering, burning, and laying wafte ;
fo that in the five Counties of Cumberland^ Tork,
Lancajler, Berks, and Northampton, which com-
poie more than haJf the Province, nothing buc
Scenes of Diftra&ion and Defolation were to be
feen.
The Damage which thefe Counties have al-
ready fuftained, by the Delertion of Plantations
is not to be reckoned up ! Nor are the Miferies
of the poor Inhabitants to be defcribed •, many
of whom were, without a Moment's Warning,
driven from thofe Habitations where they en-
joyed every Neceffary of Life, and are now ex-
pofed to all the Severity of an approaching Win-
ter ; and obliged to folicit their very Bread at
the cold Hand of Charity. Nor, Jaftly, are
the horrid Barbarities, committed upon thofe
who fell into the Enemies Hands to be parellelled
in all the Volumes of Story.
At Gnadenhutten, a fmall Moravian Settle-
ment in Northampton County, the poor unhappy
Sufferers were fitting round their peaceful Sup-
per, when the inhuman Murderers, muffled in
the Shades of Night, dark and horrid as the in-
fernal Purpofe of their Souls, dole upon them,
butchered them, fcalped them, and confumed
their Bodies, together with their Horfes, their
Stock, and upwards of fixty Head of fat Cattle
(intended for the Subfiftence of the Brethren ac
Bethlehem) all in one general Flame ; fo that next
Morning furnifhed only a melancholy Spectacle
of their mingled Allies.
At the Great Cove in Cumberland, at Tulpe-
hockin in Berks, and in feveral other Places, the
Barbarities were lull greater if pofTible. Men,
Women, Children, and Brute-beafts fnared one
common
[46]
common DeftrucYion ; and where they were not
burnt to Afhes, their mangled Limbs were
found promifcuoufly ftrewed upon the Ground,
thofe appertaining to the human Form fcarce to
be diftinguilhed from thofe of the Brute ! Nay
Stakes were found driven into the private Parts
of the Women, and the Mens private Parts cue
off, and put into their Mouths -, fo that the
Savages feem to riot and triumph in the moll
deliberate Acts of infernal Cruelty, and to grow
more favage at the Thought.—
But of all the Inftances of this, which I have
heard, I cannot help being moft affected with
the following. — One Family, confiding of the
Hufband, his Wife, and a Child only a few
Hours old, were all found murdered and fcalped
in this manner \ — the Mother ftretched on the
Bed with her new born Child horribly mangled,
and ptu under her Head for a Pillow, while the
Hufband lay on the Ground hard by with his
Body ript up, and his Bowels laid open.
In another Place, a Woman with her fucking
Child finding that Ihe had fallen into the Hands
of the Enemy, fell flat on her Face, prompted
by the ftrong Call of Nature to cover and fhelter
her innocent Child with her own Body. The
accurfed Savage rufhed from his lurking Place,
ftruek her in the Head with a 'Tomahawk^ tore
off her Scalp, and fcoured back into the Woods,
without obferving the Child, being apprehenfive
that he was difcovered. The Child was found
fome Time afterwards under the Body of its
Mother, and is yet alive.
Lad of all, to fill up the Meafure of our Sor-
row, many of our young Women are carried
into Captivity, being relerved, perhaps, for &
worfe Fate than thofe who fuftered Death in all
2 its
[47]
its horrid Shapes •, and no Wonder, fince they
arc referved by Savages, whofe tender Mercies
may be accounted more cruel than their very
Cruelty itfelf.
On the firft Notice of thefe Misfortunes, our
ever faithful Friend Scarrooyady f (alias Monoka-
toathy) came haftening to Philadelphia, together
with Colonel Weifer * the Provincial Interpreter,
and two other Indian Chiefs. A Mixture of
Grief, Indignation, and Concern fate upon their
Countenances. Scarrooyady immediately de-
manded an Audience, which was granted him
in the Prefence of the Governor and the whole
Houfe of AfTembly ; when he fpoke to the fol-
lowing Effect. —
" Bre-
f He is one of the fix Nations that has long lived among
our friendly Indians about Sbamokin, and other Places on
Safquebannab. He with one or two more, flood by General
Braddock to the laft, altho' a few Days before the Battle on
the Mohongebela he loft his Son, a bold Warrior, fhot by an
unlucky Miftake of one of our own Soldiers. Scarrooyady
greatly lamented him, and faid, that if he had fallen in ho-
nourable Battle, he mould have thought him happy ; but to
be killed by his Friends, whom he was faithfully ferving,
was a mortifying Confideration. Neverthelefs the old Man
fought heroically for us at the Battle, and 'tis faid after he
had fired away all his Ammunition, and faw the Day going
againft us, being quite overcome with Fatigue, he fat
down under a Tree, fmoaked his Pipe, ruminating upon the
impending Event, with more than Roman Firmnefs and Com-
posure of Soul.
* Mr. Weifer has greatly diftinguifhed himfelf during our
Troubles by his fuperior Sagacity and Refolution. On the
firft Alarm he put himfelf at the Head of his Neighbours,
exhorted them to make a bold Stand, and told them that he
knew the Nature of Indians well, and aty that was terrible
about them ; that he had often tried the Strength of his own
right Arm together with theirs, during a long Intercourfe
with their various Nations ; and that he could engage his
Honour and Credit that they would be found to have neither
more Bravery nor more Strength than thofe of his Country-
men, that then heard him. On the contrary he obferved,
that
CI
[48]
" Brethren,
" We are once more come among you,
and fincerely condole with you on account of
" the late Bloodfhed, and the awful Cloud that
hangs over you, and over us. Brethren^ you
may be undoubtedly affured, that thefe horrid
Aclions were committed by none of thofe
*c Nations that have any Fellowfhip with us ;
<c but by certain falfe-hearted and treacherous
<c Brethren. It grieves us more than all our
" other Misfortunes, that any of our good
" Friends the Englijh fhould fufpecc us of hav-
" ing falfe Hearts.
u Brethren,
"If you were not an infatuated People, we
are yet about * three hundred Warriors firm
to your Intereft; and if you are fo unjuft to
us, as to retain any Doubts of our Sincerity,
we offer to put our Wives, our Children, and
all we have, into your Hands, to deal with
them as feemeth good to you, if we are found
<c
«c
he
cc
M
it
" in
that they durft not meet the Face of a Man in the open Field ;
but that their ivbole Art lay in Sculking, and their <vohole
Bravery in Murder. He therefore, defired every one,
whofe Heart failed him, to return home, that he might know
what he had to truft to in the Hour of Trial. This had a pro-
per EffecT:, in firing thofe to whom he fpoke ; but they were
foon informed that the Enemy had left the Place where they
were believed to be ; and how an undifciplined Mob would
have behaved, who were all adting voluntarily, without any
Law of the Country, I cannot tell. In fuch Cafes it is hardly
poifible to keep up Order.
* It may be much doubted whether we have near that
Number of Indians inclined to a£t with us. Yet we have
many who are inclined, but are afraid to declare themfelves,
for fear of the Enemy. They can only give us private
Hints of Danger, which they frequently do.
[49]
" in the lead to fwerve from you *. Bat, Bre*
4' tbren, you mud fupport and aflift us, for we
<c are not able to fight alone againft the power-
M ful Nations who are coming againft you *, and
" you muft this Moment refolve and give us
*c an explicit Anfwer what you will do: For
" thefe Nations have fent to defire us, as old
" Friend?, either to join them, or to get out of
" their Way, and fhift for ourfelves. Alas !
" Brethren^ we are forry to leave you ! we re-
" member the many Tokens of your Friendship
<« to us i — But what fhall we do? We cannot
" ftand alone, and you will not (land with us. — •
" Brethren,
<s The Time is precious. While we are here
" confulting with you, we know not what may
" be the Fate of our Brethren at home. We
" do, therefore, once more invite and requeft
" you to act like Men, and be no longer as
<c Women, purfuing weak Meafures, that ren-
u der your Names defpicable. If you will put
the Hatchet into our Hands, and fend out a
Number of your young Men in Conjunction
with our Warriors, and provide the neceffary
" Arms, Ammunition and Provifions, and like-
" wife build fome ftrong Houfes for the Pro-
" tection of our old Men, Women, and Cliil-
" dren, while we are abfent in War, we mall
" foon wipe the Tears from your Eyes, and
" make thefe falfe-hearted Brethren repent their
cc Treachery and Bafencfs towards you and to-
" wards us.
" But
* One of the Chiefs of thefe Indians near a Year ago
placed two of his Sons at the Academy of Philadelphia,
where now they begin to read and to fpeak Engli/k,
G
t 5°3
But we muft at the fame Time folemnly-
allure you, that if you delay any longer to act
heartily in Conjunction with us> or think to
put us off, as ufual, with uncertain Hopes,
" you will fee our Faces under this Roof no
" more. We muft fhift for our own Safety,
11 and leave you to the Mercy of your Enemies
<c as an infatuated People, upon whom we can
" have no longer Dependance."
The Tears ftcod in the old Man's Eyes while
he delivered this laft Part, and no Wonder, fince
the very Being of his Nation depended upon
their joining the Enemy, or our enabling them
immediately to make head againft them. This
Speech was made on the Afternoon of a Satur-
day, and the AfTembly, far from entering into
the Confideration of the Affair, adjourned im-
mediately, and did not meet to do any Bufinefa
till the Tuefday following, which highly difgufted
the Indians to t;hink we had fo little Feeling of
their urgent Diftrefs. Several Days paflfed and
they had no Anfwer, akho' they every Day ex-
preffed the moil earned Defiie to be gone. The
Governor, therefore, fent a MelTage to the Af-
fembly, intimating, " That if they neglected this
rnoft important Application, and obftinately per-
filled in their pacific Meafurec, thereby forcing
thefe Indians, not only to leave us, but to act
againft us, all the dreadful Confequences of it
muft be left at their Door •, for he was willing
and delirous to do every Thing in his Power for
the Protection and Afliftance, as well of thefe
our Indian Allies, as of the Inhabitants of the
Province in general." *
In Anfwer to this the AfTembly evaded the
Subject, by the ftale Pretence that their Money-
Bill,
* Mefiage, November the 1 oth.
f 5» ]
Bill, if pafied, would do all : But it was not
Money thefe Indians wanted ; it was the Affiit-
ance of our Arms; for, on fuch Emergencies, they
contemn our Prelents, and, in their own empha-
tical Language, call them by the Name of Tram,
which one may drink and pifs out again. And
further, without a Militia Laze, the Indians will
never be willing to rifk their Lives for us, fines,
they never can rely on any AfTiftance which our
Volunteers may give them, in a Caufe, which is
not deemed worthy of the Sanclion and Care of
our own Legiflature.
But to divert the public Attention dill further
from this Point, the Atfembly propofed to the
Governor to fet an Enquiry on foot, whether
any Injuftice had ever been offered to the Sha-
wonefe and other Indians, who were then fcalp-
ing the Inhabitants, M principally in the late Pro-
" prietary Purchafe," as they termed it. By this
extraordinary Propofal, the AfTembly hoped to
throw the Odium of the Indian Defection upon
the Proprietors, and not upon their own conti-
nued Refufal to put the Hatchet into the Hands
of the faid Indians at their repeated Solicita-
tions.*
Nothing could be more ridiculous and unfea-
fonable than fuch a Quibble at this Time. — In
the firft Place the Indians were obliged to fcalp
the Inhabitants in the late Purchafe^ before they
could get at any former Purchafe f. And the
G 2 AlTem-
* Scarrooyady and Andrew Montour at this very Time de-
clared publickly, that the Defection of the Sbaivone/e and
Delaixares was wholly owing to the above Caufes, and to
the Increafe of Credit and Reputation gained by the French
on the Defeat of' General Braddock,. together with their Pro-
mifes and intimidating Threats towards the laid Indians. See
Pennsylvania Gazette, N° 1407.
f They have fince too fatally convinced Ui that they make
no Diitinction of Purchafes.
iC
K
M
Ci
[ 52]
AiTembly have fince been brought to acknow-
ledge, upon an Infpection of the Indian Treaties
and Council Books — " That they believe great
Care has generally been taken to do the In-
dians Juftice by the Proprietaries in all their
Purchafes and other public Tranfactions •, —
and that the Proprietaries have done wifely,
not only to purchafe their Lands, but to pur-
chafe them more than once, tor peace-fake -,
and that it appears that the Shawonefe could
have but a Jlender Foundation for any Claim
" of Satisfaction for Lands in this Province," —
where in Tr-uth it has been made appear they
never had any Lands or Claim at all. —
But let us fuppofe they had a juft Right to
Lands among us, certainly Protection is due in
the firft place to the People who have, bona fide ',
purchafed and fettled thefe Lands *, and when
once their Lives are fecured, and the Invaders
forced to liften to Reafon, then will be the pro-
per Time to propofe fuch an Enquiry and Satis-
faction,
The Back Inhabitants living upon and near
thefe Lands, loft all Patience at the AfTembly's
Conduct in this Affair *. They looked upon it
as an egregious and folemn Trifling with their
Lives and Properties. They petitioned ; they
remonflrated ; nay, they threatened that they
would march down and tear the whole Members
of the legiflative Body Limb from Limb, if they
did not grant them immediate Protection. They
complained of the flagrant Injuftice done them
in not allowing the Back Counties their due Pro-
portion
* What moll of all exafperated the People was, that the
Quakers had, during the Incurfions upon our Neighbours,
always given out that the Indians would never meddle with
Ptniifxlrvanui) and thus continually lulled us in Security, and
evaded the Subject of Defence.-—
[53 ]
portion of Reprefentatives, which made their
Interefts to be fo little confidered, and their Di-
itreffes fo little felt, by the Legijlature, at this
Time of Calamity.
And, indeed, there is not perhaps a more fla-
grant Piece of Iniquity fubfifting among any free
People, than the Manner in which this Province
is reprefented in AiTembly. We have eight
Counties, and out of thirty-fix Members, the
three old Counties, where the Quakers are fettled,
return twenty-fix of the Number. The other five
Counties, fettled with People of many other
Denominations, efpecially Prejbyterians from the
North of Ireland, fend only the ten remaining
Members among them. This was the Policy of
the Quakers at the firfb Erection of the five lad
Counties \ by which means, together with their
Artifices among the Germans, the Quakers are
always a vail Majority in the AiTembly, altho"
they are not near one fifth of the People in the
Province.
Whenever, therefore, an Enquiry (hall be
made into the Methods by which the Inhabi-
tants in the Five Back Counties, who are fo
great a Majority, have been fo long kept from
acting in their own Defence, altho' eager to di-
ftinguifh themfelves in Conjunction with their
brave Neighbours of other Colonies ; I hope it
will be afcribed to this iniquitous Method of re-
prefenting the Province, which makes the Inte-
reft of particular Places and Denominations of
Men to be preferred to the general Service ', and,
I doubt not, a proper Remedy will be applied.
For, at prelent, all the Back Inhabitants, not-
withstanding their Majority, are abfolutelyat the
Mercy of a Faction, chofen from three Counties,
where the Quakers have very fneakingly taken
Care
E 54]
Care to feat themfelves, becaufe they lie out of
Danger, and are fecured by the other Counties.
And, in return, thefe other Counties are thus
unjuftly treated, altho' they are our Barrier, and
more immediately concerned in every thing that
can come before the AfTembly, (efpecially on the
Subject of Defence) than the old Counties can
be.
Hence if the Back Counties were but fairly
reprefented, it would be impoflible to tie up the
Hands of the People. We mould much fooner
have been alarmed with our Danger ; the Qua-
kers would not have been able to oppofe the
Meafures concerted for our Defence, and we
fhould have made a very different Figure from
what we now do, becaufe the general Interefts
of the whole People would have been properly
felt and confidered, by a LegiQature, taken
equally out of all Parts of the Country.
If this Piece of Iniquity is not fpeedily redref-
fedj it will be productive of much Confufion and
111- blood among ourfelves. The Scotch Iri/b,
in particular, think that the Quakers have a fe-
cret Satisfaction in feeing their increafmg Mul-
titude thinned and beggared in the Back Coun-
ties ; as will appear from the following genuine
Letter, which it would be unpardonable not to
infert in this Place, as it fo well explains the
Subject I am upon* together with the Principles
of our Quakers. It was written from a Gentle-
man in the Back Counties to his Friend in Town,
on reading the printed Meflfages concerning the
Indians, &c. of which I have juft been fpeaking.
M November 19, 1755.
" I would fay much more on thefe Topics —
*c but my Heart is fo full of another Subject,
" that
[ 55 1
<c that I mull pour it out to eafe myfelf. Yon
" told me the AfTembly were like to do nothing,
« I have, fince that, read the Meflages that
M pafTed between the Governor and them, and
" read them with Concern and Vexation or Spi-
u rit. I heretofore ufed to put foft Conftruc-
" tions on their Conduct, and hoped they were
" willing to a£b for the Defence of their Cuun-
" try, in their own Way : But now they have
*c fufficiently undeceived me.
" I think the Governor fpeaks guardedly, and
" fhews a proper Zeal for the Defence of the
" Inhabitants, tho' the AfTembly endeavour not
" only to diminifh, but annihilate, all his Pro-
" felfions on that Head, by pretending to prove,
M that his CommifTion and InftrucYions do not
" fo far limit him, but that he might confidently
" pafs the Bill they propofe, if he were willing.
cc Yet I fee no Reafon why they mould not aJ-
" low him a Confcience as well as themfelves.
" As to the Affair of the Indians, I think
<c the Governor ufed very mild Language, and
*' fuch as did not mew him to be fo exceeding-
cc ly difpleafed with the AiTembiy's Application
<c and Queftions on that Head, as he had Rea-
" fon to be : For he only fays, that their Lan-
guage feems very extraordinary, when, in-
ftead of (lengthening his Hands for the Pro-
tection of the People, and the Repulfion of *
favage Enemy, at this Time of imminent Pe-
ril, they talk of regaining the Affection of the
<< faid Savages, while they are laying wade the
M Country, and of fetting a-foot an Enquiry
<c into what lnjuftice they have received, and
" why they are fallen from their Alliance with
•* us, 65V. when they have never complained ox
u any lnjuftice done them > — and when every
M
EC
c<
E 56}
<c Man of us may be butchered before we can
<€ difcover the true Motives which have induced
" them to become our Murderers. —
" 1 am not the Governor, nor connected with
<c him by any Dependence, nor made partial in
•' his Favour fo much as by Acquaintance •, yet
" I read their Meffage on that Head with Sur-
" prize, nor could I refrain from defpifing it as
<c the mod egregious Trifling. It is of fo ex-
44 traordinary a Nature, that I cannot find an
44 adequate Refemblance of it. But I will fup-
" pofe fome of thefe Affembly-Men's Houfes in
44 Town to be on Fire, and they' come to you,
44 in breathlefs Hafte, calling for Buckets and
44 Water: Then, inilead of affording them what
46 Help you can, fuppofe you fhould proceed
44 leifurely and calmly to enquire of them, how
44 the Houfe catched Fire ? Was it by Defign
44 of any malicious Perfon ? If fo, pray who was
44 he ? And what was the fuppofed Rife of his
44 Malice ? Did he receive any Affront ? And
44 what was it ? And when ? Or did the Houfe
** catch by Accident ? Or was it owing to the
44 Careleflhefs of a Servant ? And was he a black
44 Servant, or a white one ? Bond or Free ?
" And will you order him to be punifhed for
<c it? Or will you give him fair Words that
" he may not do fo again ? — Talk to therfi at
«' this Rate, and fee, in fuch a Cafe, if their Pa-
" tience will enable them to ftand and hear you
" out ; or whether they will think you in ear-
45 neft to help them, or only mocking them, and
*' trifling with their Diftrefs. The Application
4C is eafy.
" But our Affembly, when called to extin-
" guifh the Flames of their Countrv, tell us far-
-^r- ther, that thev can do nothing, nor know what
" Bills
[ 57]
** Bills to propofe, as every one is rejected on
tc fome Pretence or another. But whoever is
V impofed on by this Talk muft be criminally
tc weak and dull ; for is it not very pofTible and
eafy at this Juncture, when all is at Stake, to
ftrike ten, or fifteen, or twenty thoufand
Pounds, and fink it in five Tears by the Ex-
cife ; and in the mean Time, by an infenfible
Addition to our Taxes, to raife Money for
Support of Government? Do they not know
that fuch a Bill as this will pafs? Yes, they
do know it, and the Governor has repeatedly
offered to pafs fuch a Bill ! Now, would not
" the leaft of thefe Sums be of great Service in
" procuring Defence for the back Inhabitants ?
But we muft be amufed with great Things in
order the more gracefully to give us nothing.
" I had rather have ten thoufand Pounds certain,
than the Propofal of fixty thoufand Pounds on
a Footing that renders my receiving it im-
practicable. Nay to offer one hundred Thou-
" fand Pounds on fuch a Footing is generoufiy
" to offer nothing at all.
" But further, why do they not prepare a
" Bill for a regular Militia as the Gover-
nor propofes ? Do they not certainly know
that fuch a Bill would likewife pafs ? Yet they
" never mention a Word about it, tho' at this
" Juncture more necefTary than Money itfelf, to
" the uniting and due Management of our
" Strength. When this is confidered, who is fo
<c grofsly ftupid as ever to believe them any
<c more, when they pretend that the Governor is
" wholly to blame for our being in a defencelefs
" State ? If their Confcience forbids them to
" pafs a military AR^ why do they fit in the
" Seat of Government, at fuch a Time as this ?
H 5 If
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If they will not act themfelves, they may be
excufed *, but, when they will not let others
act, that are willing to defend themfelves, they
are for ever inexcufable. They are now in
the Place of our Proteclors. Our Country
depopulated, our Fellow-fubjects fpoiled and
murdered, our Wives and Children flying for
u Fear — all call to them for Help. Certainly
*' then, when they refufe to afford what they
Cc can and ought to afford, by all Ties whatfo-
gi ever, they are guilty of deftroying thofe whom
*c they do not endeavour to preferve; and on
*' this Principle, it will clearly follow, that a
'* Multitude of our Quakers, Ajfembly-Men, and
*c others, are the bloodied People in our Land ;
*4 and the Blood of thofe who are murdered
tl thro' their Default, cries to Heaven againfl
X; them, let them make light of it as long as
u they can.
66 I fay make light of it •, for I have been
** well informed, that a Member of the Affem-
•« bly * fent back to inform himfelf and Bre-
M thren of the Truth of the Ravages and Inhu-
u manities committed amongft us, finding that
Things were full as bad as they were repre-
fented, he replied with great Indifference, that
there were only fome Scotch -Irish killed,
who could well enough he /pared. This is the
common Language of many of thefe People.
It is our Crime not to be Dupes to Quaker
Politics, and the more of us are deftroyed,
the fewer will remain to oppofe their dirty In-
terefls. My very Soul riles at the Thought!
*c And thefe hard-hearted Wretches will find
*6 that Gcd will require the Blood of Scotch-lrijh
«4
<i
it
ci
* Nathaniel Grubh, a Quaker, Member for Cbefter Coun-
ty, made this Speech at Lancafter, &c.
[ 59 J
<c at their Hands affoon as the Blood of §ua~
" kers ; and it will cry equally loud from the
*• Earth for Vengeance. Bur, perhaps, they
" will exculpate themfelves, as ufual, by plead-
u ing their Endeavours to preferve the Lives of
" the favage Murderers, and fo they ft.\\\pre~
<c ferve Life. This is true -, but then they pre-
" ferve Lives that by all Laws, both divine and
<c human, ought to be deflroyed •, and in fo do-
" ing they deftroy thofe Lives which they are
" obliged, by the fame Laws, to preferve. —
<c Now if any of the more ferious Quakers
" this Way feem difturbed with this diftreffing
" Afpect of Affairs, their leading Ones hu(h
" them, bid them be quite eafy, afluring them,
" that neither French nor Indians will hurt the
" Quakers. This, with fome other Circum-
" fiances, has made many People furmife, that
" by fome private Articles, which they either
" have, or defign to enter into with our Ene*
" mies, the Quakers have fecured their Society.
" And when they are feen to affect Indifference
" about the prefent State of Things, and dif-
" dainfully to fneer at our military Preparations,
" it gives great Ground to believe that this
" Coolnefs muft proceed from fome fuch Caufe,
" or from the grGfTefl Stupidity and Blindnefs;
" for if their Faith, as they pretend, was fo great
** in this Cafe as to be Walls of Brafs around
" them, Why does not the fame Faith fhew ic-
" felf equally in all other Cafes? But the Truth
" is, that in all other Affairs, they feem to have
*• no greater Faith than their Neighbours, nor
" fo great as many of them. They can as little
u caft their Bread upon the Waters as any Peo-
" pie I know. Nor do they in any common
" Matters pretend to trufl God, without the Ufi
H 2 of
[ 6o ]
•c of Means. They plow and they fow ; they
reap, and they gather into Barns, as others do.
Nor are they Jefs carnal in their Tempers
than the People of this World. Let them be
touched, they will rail and reproach ! And
what Spitefulnefs, Partiality, and Envy ap-
pear at Elections, if they meet with the lead:
Controul, is too open to be hid from any that
" know them.
" Indeed, I by no means think of them all
alike. Some are candid and rational, and
have fhewn themfelves heartily concerned for
the Protection of the back Inhabitants. Thefe,
tho' better Patriots^ and better Men than
others, yet are worfe Quakers^ and that in the
Judgment of their Brethren. For, have they
not cenfured in their Meetings thofe Perfons
who were in any refpect aiding and forward-
ing our Expedition to the Frontiers againft
" the Indians. Thus, inftead of helping to pre-
" ferve us, they rather drive to deliver us into
** our Enemies Hands, and all this fo confcien-
tioufly as to think they do God Service in fo
doing. Their Confciences are mighty tender
of fhedding the Blood of Indian Murderers,
but hardened and feared as to fhedding the
Blood, at lead of the Scotch-Irijh. - The Pa-
pifts think they do God Service by killing us
as Heretics. The Quakers think they do the
fame, by looking calmly on, while we are
<c killed to their Hand. And where lies the
" Difference ? Both act as their Religion dictates,
and both ire ftaancb, bigotted^ and pharifaical
alike. — Now it is certain, that they, who pro-
feis to be our Friends, if they are not with us,
when Need requires, they are to be reckoned
againft us ; and therefore we may well reckon
« very
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[ 6i ]
Xi very many of the Quakers to be our real Ene-
" mies. And when the Principles of their Re-
" Jigion lead them into this Dilemma, that they
** mud either counteract them, or act like Ene-
" mies and Traitors to their Country, I think it
" demonfrrates their Religion to be contradic-
" tory to Reafon, to Scripture, and to the Laws
" of Nature and Nations.
** Wherefore, such a Religion ought to be
" rejected, and, if pofiible, extirpated from the
" Face of the whole Earth, by every good Pa-
" triot and good Christian ; not only as it
*' is fubverfive of all Society, but alfo as it is de-
u ftructive of that very Peace and good Will
" among Men, which it pretends, in a more emi-
" nent Degree, to preferve and propagate."—
&SV.—
This Gentleman had greater Reafon than he
knew of, to reckon our Quakers fome of the
bloodieft People in our Land, and to conclude
that their Religion, which makes them fo, ought
to be rejected by every good Citizen. For, in
the midft of this Diftrefs, the i^^r-Members
of AiTembJy were cited into a private Houfe by
three famous Quaker Preachers lately from Eng-
land, one Male and the other two Female ; where
they were letlured for feveral Hours, and told
that if ever they gave up, or acted inconfiftent
with, that diftinguifhing Tenet of their Religion,
which retrained them from bearing Arms, or
contributing to Defence, they would no longer
be a feparate People, but would dwindle away
infenfibly, among the Men of the Earth.
At the fame Time the Heads of the Meeting
in this City joined their Influence to that of their
Preachers, and in their own Name, and in the
Name of all the Quakers in the Province, pre-
fented
cc
CC
cc
[62 ]
fented the following remarkable Addrefs to the
Affembly* who were now preffed on every Side,
and could not (land it out much longer, without
railing the People in Rebellion. —
*c To the Representatives of the Free-
" men of the Province of Pennfylvaniay in
" General Aflembly met,
,c The Address of fome of the People cal-
" led Quakers, in behalf of themfelves
" and others in the faid Province.
" The Confideration of the Meafures which
have lately been purfued, and are now pro-
pofed, having been weightily imprefTed on
our Minds, we apprehend that we mould fall
" fhortof our Duty to you, to ourfelvcs, and to
" our Brethren in religious Fellowfhip^ if we did
" not in this Manner inform you, that although
«c we mail at all Times, heartily and freely con-
" tribute, according to our Circumftances, ei-
" ther by the Payment of Taxes, or in fuch
" other Manner as may be judged necefTary to-
<c wards the Exigencies of Government, and fin*
" cerely defire that due Care may be taken, and
<c proper Funds provided for raifing Money to
" cultivate our Friendmip with our Indian
" Neighbours, and to fupport fuch of our Fel-
<c Jow-fubjects, who now are, or may be, in Di-
<c Jlrefs, and for fuch ot her like benevolent Pur-
«c pofes -, yet as the raifing Sums of Money, and
" putting them into the Hands of Committees^
c< who may apply them to Purpofes incovftftent
" with the peaceable Testimony we pro-
" fefs, and have borne to the World, appears
M to us, in its Confequences, to be deilructave
ci of our religious Liberties •, we apprehend ma-
M ny
[ 63 ]
" ny among us, will be under the Nccefllty of
M Suffering, rather than contenting thereto, by
" the Payment of a Tax [ox fucb Purpofes ; and
" thus the fundamental Part of our Conftitution
fi may be ejfentially affected, and that tree En-
<c joyment of Liberty of Confcience (for the Sake
" of which our Fore- fathers left their native
11 Country, and fettled this, then a Wildernefs)
M by Degrees be violated.
" We fincerely afllire you we have no tempo-
" ral Motives for thus addreiTing you, antl could
" we have preferved Peace in our own Minds,
M and with each other, we mould have declined
" it, being unwilling to give you any unnecef-
" fary Trouble •, and deeply fenfible of your
<c Difficulty in difcharging the Truft committed
<c to you irreproachably in thefe perilous Times,
" which hath engaged our fervent Defires, than
" the immediate Inftruction of fupreme iVifdom
" may influence your Minds, and that being
" preferved in a fleady Attention thereto, you
M may be enabled to fecure Peace and Tranquil-
" lity to yourfelves and thofe you reprefent, by
" purfuing Me a fur es conjiftem with our peace-
" able Principles, and then we truft, we may
" continue humbly to confide in the Protection
" of that Almighty Power whofe Providence
" has heretofore been as Walls and Bulwarks
*' round about us." —
Delivered 6th November 1755.
This Addrefs haftened Things to their defired
IfTue. It was now clearly perceived under what
Influence the Affembly were acting, and that all
their Difputep> had been nothing but Expedients
to protract Time and oblige a Party, whom they
durft not tax for Defence without lofing their
Seats ;
3
[ 64 ]
Seats •, fince the faid Party, when Matters were
now brought to an Extremity, did not fcruple to
declare publickly, that they would fooner suffer
than contribute to fuch Purpofes. The principal
Part of the Inhabitants of this City read the faid
Addrefs with Indignation, and could only con-
fider it as a mod impudent Requeft to facrifice
the greater Part of the Province to the undue
Influence of a Set of wrong-headed Enthufiafts !
The Mayor of the City, therefore, fummoned
all the Inhabitants of every Rank to meet him
on the 1 2th of November \ in order to obtain
their Senfe of the prefent State of Affairs, and
to join him in a Reprefentation to the AfTembly,
in which, as an Antidote to the i^z^r-Poifon,
as well as in Duty to the poor Sufferers, he pro-
pofed that they mould not only infifl upon raifing
Money for Defence, but alfo that they fhould
make a peremptory Demand of a proper Mili-
tary Law, that the Country might no longer be
facrificed to the Interefts of a Faction. The
fame Day the following fpirited Reprefentation,
containing fome unanfwerable Arguments for a
.Military Power, was accordingly figned by the
principal Inhabitants, and immediately prefented
by the Mayor, in their Name.
" A Representation to the General- AiTem-
" bly of the Province of Pennjylvania, by fe-
veral of the principal Inhabitants of the City
of Philadelphia, in the faid Province.
" Gentlemen,
" At a Time when a bold and barbarous Fne-
cc my has advanced within * a hundred Miles
" of
* The Enemy firrce that have laid wade upwards of 30
Miles, fo that our Frontier in fome Parts is but about 60
Miles from our Seat of Gcvcjfcment.
cc
[ 65 ]
" of this our Metropolis, carrying Murder and
•« Defolation along with them ; and when wc
<c fee our Country already Rained with the Blood
«c of many of its Inhabitants, and upwards of a
«< thoufand Families, who very lately enjoyed
*c Peace and Comfort in their own Habitations,
" now difperfed over the Province, many of
cc them in the molt miferable and flarving Con-
«* dition, expofed to all the Hardships and Se-
c< verity of the Seafon : — We fay, in fuch a Sir
•< tuation, we mould think ourfelves greatly
cc wanting in Regard for our own perfonal Safe-
" /y, as well as in Companion for our bleeding
" and fuffering Fellow-Subjetts, if we did not
" thus publicly join our Names to the Number
f* of thofe who are requeuing you to pafs a
ct Law, in order to put the Province in a Po-
" fture of Defence, and to put a_Stop to thofe
" cruel and favage Outrages, which mufl: other-
f* wife foon prove our Ruin.
cc We hope we fhall always be enabled to pre-
" ferve that Reipecl: to you, which we would
" willingly pay to thofe who are the faithful
cc Reprefentatives of the Freemen of this Province.
cc But, on the prefent Occafion, you will for-
" give us, Gentlemen, if we aiTume Characters
U fomething higher than that of humble Suitors,
" praying for the Defence of our Lives and
c; Properties, as matter of Grace and Favour
<c on your fide. You will permit us to make a
pofitive and immediate Demand of it, as a
Matter of perfect and unalienable Right on
our own Parts, both by the Laws ot GOD
and Man. And to this we are induced by
" the following Confiderations. —
" i. The Approach of Winter brings along
with it the dreadful Profpecf. of a continual
I «• In-
[66 ]
" Increafe of the Inroads of thofe preying Sa~
cc vages upon our Inhabitants, unlefs a proper
" Force is immediately provided to protect and
" defend them.
" The proper and natural Force of every Coun-
<c try is its Militia; without which we know
<c of no Government that ever could fubfilt it-
<c felf ; for it is highly unjuft to think that the
" Burden of Defence mould fall upon Individuals^
" when the Defign of Government is to obtain
" general Security by a general Union
" of the Force of Individuals.
M 3. Confequently we conceive' it a Subver-
" fion of the very End of Government, to
deny that legal Protection to the Governed,
•c for obtaining of which, Government was ori-
ginally inftituted.
4. In our own particular Cafe, altho' Men
could be found willing to rifk their Lives for
" the Publick, and could be fubjecled to necef-
*< fary Order and Difcipline, without the Aid
<c or Encouragement of Law (which we cannot
<c conceive podible) yet it would neither be
" advifeable for the Sake of fuch Men them-
felves> nor yet for the fake of public Liberty, to
keep up an armed Force in the Country, with-
out the Sanction and Authority of Law •, efpe-
cially as it is fo much in your Power to give
fuch a Sanction and Authority.
5. Unlefs the Defence of this Province, and
of our Indian Allies, is made the All of the
whole Legijlature^ and vigoroufly gone into*
" the Indians who are now in Town, have pub-
" licly declared for themfelves, and for their
Friends who yet remain in our Intereft, that
they can no longer repofe any Faith in us ;
but mud fliift for their own Safety, and leave
" us
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
6C
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
CC
cc
' (.
[67 J
ct us to ourfelves, as a People void of Spirit, and
" void of Conduct.
" 6. We are of Opinion, that no Sums of
Money, however great, will anfwer the Pur-
pofes of Defence, without fuch a Law as we
defire. We cannot, therefore, think that it
fhews a proper Concern for the Lives of the
People of this Province, at ib dangerous a
Juncture, to propofe Sums of Money in the
room of fuch a neceffary Law, and to propofe
raifing thefe Sums too, in a Manner that mull
" occafion Difputes and Delays, when there are
" lb many unexceptionable Ways and Means,
44 agreeably to which the People in general are
*' very ready to pay any reafunable Proportion
" of their Property, for the Prefer vation of the
" Rcfidue.
" Upon the whole, Gentlemen, we muft be
permitted to repeat our Demand, that you will
immediately frame and offer a Law for the De-
fence of the Province, in fuch a manner as the
prefent Exigency requires. The Time does
not permit many Hands to be put to this Re-
prefentation. But if Numbers are neceffary,
" we trufb that we fhall neither want a fufficient
" Number of Hands nor Hearts to fecond and
" fupport us, till we finally obtain fuch a juft and
" reasonable Demand." Delivered Nov. 12th.
In this the Mayor acted only as a private Man
among his Citizens •, but feeing Things dill in
the greateft: Confufion, the Corporation of the
City (as foon afterwards as they could) thought
it incumbent upon them, as a Body -politic,
charged with the Peace and Safety of the City,
to fignify their juft Appreheaifions of the Danger
to which they were expo fed, and to remonjtrate,
I 2 in
CC
CC
CC
SI
CC
CC
[ 68 ]
in the mod folemn and public Manner, againft
the Meafures then purfued •, which they did, from
a very full Board, as follows :
" To the Reprefentatives of the Freemen of the
?• Province of Pennfylvama, in AfTembly met,
" A Remonstrance, by the Mayor, Alder-
" men, and Common- council of the City of
<c Philadelphia, in Behalf of the faid City.
Gentlemen,
You were lately called together upon more
«
" urgent Bufinefs than ever came before an Af-
" fembly of this Province •, and while you have
64 been fitting, fcarce a Day has pafTed, wherein
you have not heard of the inhuman Slaughter
of your Fellow-fubjecls, and been loudly called
upon for that Proteclion, which by the mod
facred Ties you owe to the People.
On fuch an Emergency, we imagined that
you had an eafy and expeditious Mode of Pro-
" cedure before you; namely, to poftpone all
Dilputes to a more feafonable Time ; to grant
the neceiTary Supplies on fuch Terms, as thofe
on which the reft of his Majedy's Colonies
" have granted large Sums for the like Purpofes ;
and laitly, to pafs a reajonable haw, in order
to colled! and regulate the Force of the Pro-
" z'irue, for repelling the prefent cruel Invafion.
" Nevertheleis, while you have been delibe-
" rating, much innocent Blood hath been fpilt;
" a great Extent of our Country laid wade; and
" the miferable Inhabitants fcattered abroad be-
" fore the Savage-spoiler.
" Wherefore, in the mod folemn Manner,
" before God, and in the Name of all our Fel-
" low-
(4
(C
CC
4;
il
a
«
M
vC
[ 69 ]
M low-citizens, as you regard the Lives of the
" People whom you reprefent, we call upon
«« you, we adjure you, nay we fupplicate you,
M to give that legal Protection to your bleeding
" Country, which ought to be the chief Object
" of all Government at fuch a perilous Juncture
" as this. And let it be no longer faid, that
" while we are daily hearing lb much concern-
" ing Privilege and Right ; we are, in the mean
" Time, deprived of that molt efTential Right
" and great fir ft Privilege, (which God and Na-
M ture gave us) of defending our Lives and
" protecting our Families.
" We profefs the fame Reafons for this Ap-
" plication, which determined many of the In-
" habitants of this City to make a like Applica-
" tion to you on the twelfth Inltant \ and as
c* thefe Reafons now lie before you, we need
" not repeat them, any further than by obferving
" that a well regulated Militia has always been
" found both the fureft and lead expenfive Me-
" thod of Defence •, and that, upon any other
" Plan, great Sums of Money muft be thrown
" away to little Purpofe, and the People thereby
" burdened with grievous Taxes.
" Another Reafon for thus applying to you,
" is the great Diltrefs which this City, commit-
" ted to our Care, is like to labour under by
" the vaft Increafc of the Poor from all Parts
" of the Country, and the melancholy Profpefi
" of having far greater Numbers of the unhappy
" Back-fcttlers driven in upon us from their Ha-
" citations, and continually flying to the Shelter
" and Chanty of the City, as the Place of great-
" eft Safety. This muft neceifarily be prejudi-
" cial to the general Courfe of Bufinefs, and
" enhance the Value of all Neceffaries, by in-
«' creafing
[7°]
M creafing the Number of Mouths, and at the
** tame time diminifhing the Number of Hands
" that mould fupply our Market •, — all which
M will prove a Burden upon us too heavy to
" bear.
" Seeing therefore our Affairs are brought to
" fuch a Crifis, and as this our reafonable De-
M mand cannot require much Time for your Con-
*c fideration, having already been fo often made
<c to you by Petitions from all Parts of the Pro-
•-' vince, we do earneftly recommend Difpatch
" to you. For, as the People feem already in
" a deplorable and defperate Condition, we fear
" it will not be pofiible to preferve the Peace
** and Quiet of this City, nor of the Province
" itfeif, much longer, if lome effectual Methods
44 are not fpeedily taken for their general Defence
" and Security.
Nov. 24th, " By Order of the Board,
l75S'
" William Plumjied, Mayor."
There was now a Flame rifing in every Part
of the Country, which the Affembly with all
their Arts could not fupprefs. The People were
daily fuffering : They demanded Protection ; and
they would liiten to no infinuating Stories about
Privileges and Liberty, while the Sword of the
Enemy was at their Throat, ready to deprive
them of their Lives and their Privileges together.
On this Occafion, there was the faireft Chance
of ridding our Affembly * of Quakers for ever,
if
* There was another way of getting rid of them, by cut-
ting their Throats ; which Expedient a great many fanguine
People of the back Counties had refolved upon, and would
certainly have executed, if great Pains had not been taken
to prevent it, by Men who did not owe any fuch Kiodnefs to
thofe who would have been the firft Sufferers.
[7i 1
if our Conftitution had not this Abfurdity in ir,
that there is not a Power of Diilblution in the
Governor •, — a Power which no Country fhould
be deprived of for the following Rcafons, among
many others that might eafily be given :
i ft. When Elections are periodical and dated,
there is this manifeft Inconvenience, that parti-
cular Men may at the Time of their Election be
thought very fit Reprefentatives, and yet before
the Time of their Service is expired, Circum-
itances may be fo altered, as to render them of
all others the mod unfit for fuch a Truft ; and
therefore when fuch Circumftances arife, the Peo-
ple ought to have an Opportunity of fhewing
their Senfe of the Fitnefs of their Reprefenta-
tives, by a new Election, in confequence of a
Difiblution. Our own Cafe is a mod flagrant
Proof of this Inconvenience.
2. A fecond great Inconvenience is that, at the
ftated Times of Election, where they are periodi-
cal, Things may be fo circumstanced, as that
the Election ought to be put off, and the fame
Members continued, at lead for fome Time ;
and therefore there fhould be always fome Perfon
empowered and qualified to judge at what Time
the Attention of the People may be fpared for
the Bufinefs of Elections, with leafc Detriment
to the Country •, and this requires, that fuch a
Perfon fhould have both a Power of continuing
and of dijfohing the People's Reprefentatives, as
the public Good may require. We would alfo
feel this Inconvenience greatly, if on the ift Day
of OElober next, every Man of us fhould be called
to elect our Reprefentatives, and oppofe the E-
nemy at the fame Inftant in the Heart of the
Country, which is a very poffible Ca(c.
Rue
[72 I
But to proceed : Our AfTcmbly faw that the
People were become defperate, and would no
longer be trifled with. Every Day brought Pe-
titions, Remonftrances, and many other clamo-
rous Things, figned by great Numbers of Hands,
and all infifting^upon a Militia-law in particular,
as abfolutely necefTary to colled: and conduct our
natural Strength. To deny this juft Requeft a
Moment longer, was dangerous to the laft De-
gree •, and to comply with it would prove the
Ruin of the Faction, as was (hewn in the Brief
State *. There was no Expedient left to ward
off the Storm, but to frame a Sort of Military-
billy which would reduce the Governor to the
following Dilemma.
Firft, if he refufed to pafs it as it was, or if
he offered any Amendments to it, they were de-
termined not to admit of one of them, but to
quarrel with him on the Bill, and thus flop the
Clamours of the People againft themfelves, by
pretending that they had offered a Military-bill,
but the Governor would not agree to it.
But if he mould agree to it, they had taken
Care of their Intereft, by framing it in fuch a
Manner, as to (trip the Crown of fome of its
eflential Prerogatives.
The Governor faw their Drift, and therefore
as the Law was to continue in Force only about
eleven Months, he knew that the People in that
Time would be convinced of its Abfurdity much
better by feeling its Defects, than by any At-
tempt of his to point them out ; and accordingly
he immediately pafTed it f, to the great Mortifi-
cation of the AfTembly, who defired above all
Things
* Page 1 6. Edition ift.
•\ The Corporation Remonftrance was prefented in the
Morning of November the 25th j and this Law was pafTed in
the Evening of the fame Day.
[73 J
Things that he might enter into a Difpute with
them concerning it.
As foon as the Law was publifhed, the Peo-
ple were exafperated at the Iniquity of it to the
laft Degree ; and there is not a Tingle Man that
has yet ftirred in confequence of it. On the
contrary, fome Counties have already met and
fubfcribed Remonftrances againft it, as a Thing
that they neither comprehend, nor will be con-
cerned with, fo that we are now in a worfe State
than ever \ and all our Hopes is, that a 'proper
Militia -law will be framed for us, by his Ma-
jefty's Interpofition, in confequence of our hum-
ble Petition for that Purpofe.
But that you may have a more juft Idea of
this Law, I mall give you an Abftraft of it> and
then (hew what Reafons the People have to be
difpleafed with it.
<c An AS for the better ordering and regula-
" ting fuch as are willing and defirous to be
" united for Military Purpofes within this
" Province.
" — Whereas this Province was firft fettled by
(and a Majority of the AMembly has ever fince
been of) the People called Quakers, who,
tho' they do not, as the World is now circum-
" (lanced, condemn the Ufe of Arms in others,
" yet are principled againft bearing Arms them-
" felves *, and to make any Law to compel them
u thereto againft their Confciences, would not
" only be to violate a Fundamental in our Con-
" ftitution, and be a direct Breach of our Char-
44 ter of Privileges, but would alfo in effect be to
" commence Perfecution againft all that Part of
" the Inhabitants of the Province ; and for them
" by any Law to compel others to bear Arms,
K " and
it
[74]
tl and except themfelves, would be inconfiftent
•* and partial. Yet tor as much as, by the gene-
<; ral Toleration and Equity of our Laws,
4* great Numbers of People of other religious De-
4' nominations are come among us, who, being
*c under no fuch Reftraint, think it their Duty
<c to fight in Defence of their Country, and there -
" fore have an equal Right to Liberty of Confci-
"" ence with others : And whereas a great Number
" of Petitions from the feveral Counties of this
*' Province have been prefented to this Houfe,
reprefenting that they are defirous of being
united under legal Authority for Defence, and
that without fuch Authority they cannot have
*c Confidence in each other, nor aflemble to op-
c* pofe the. Enemy without the utmoft Danger
lc of expofing themfelves to Confufion and De-
" ftruction : — And whereas we do not think it
" reafonable that any mould, thro' want of legal
Powers, be reftrained from doing what they
judge it their Duty to do for their own
Security :
•* Wherefore be it enacted, that it (hall and
,c may be lawful for the Freemen of this Pro-
** vince, to form themfelves into Companies, as
N heretofore they have ufed in Time of War
without Law, and for each Company, by a
Majority of Votes, in the way of Ballot, to
chufe its own Officers, to wit, a Captain, Lieu-
tenant, and Enfign, who, if approved and
" commiflloned by the Governor tor the Time
ct being, fliall be the Captain, &c. of each Com-
* pany refpe&ively; and the laid Companies be-
*' ing divided into Regiments by the Governor,
•« it fhall be lawful for the Officers fo chofen and
" com mi (Honed to meet together, and by way
" of Ballot, to chufe a Colonel, Lieutenant-Co-
u lonely
(,'.
[75 ]
" lonel, and Major, for the Regiment, and pre-
" fent them to the Governor tor his Appro-
cc bation.
« Provided that if he (hall not think fit to
" commifiion any Officer fo firft chofen and pre-
" fented, the Electors fhall chufe two others,
" one of whom Jhall receive his Commifiion, and
" be the Officer as aforefaid.
<c When the faid Companies and Regiments
<c are thus formed, £sfc it fhall and may be law-
" ful for the Governor, by and with the Advice
" and Confent of the Colonels, Lieutenant-Co-
" lonels, and Majors of all the Regiments, being
" for that Purpofe by him convened, to form
" and eflablifh Articles of War, to erect and
" conftitute Courts Martial, t£c. &c. which
" Articles fo made, fhall be printed and read to
<c the refpective Companies ; and every Captain,
" Lieutenant, Enfign, and other Freemen, who
u fhall, at leafi after three Days Consideration,
" voluntarily fign the fame, fhall thenceforth be
<c deemed well and duly bound, and fubject to
" the Pains, Penalties, Punilhments, and For-
" feitures, that may therein be appointed for
" Difobedience and other Offences : Provided
" that fuch Articles be as near as poflible con-
" formable to the Military-laws of Great-Britain,
" and to the laft Act for punifhing Mutiny and
" Defertion •, and provided alfo, that nothing in
" this Act fhall give any Power to the Governor
" and faid Officers, to make any Articles or
" Rules that fhall in the leaft affect fuch as are
14 confcientioujly fcrupulous of bearing Arms, ei-
cc ther in their Liberties, Perfons, or Eftates."
By the Preamble of this Law, you fee that
our AiTembly are, and have always been Quakers,
K 2 and
[ 76 ]
and that they are ftill principled againft bearing
Arms. What can be more abfurd than fuch a
Declaration from thofe who are in the room of
our Proteclors ? That which is the chief Defign
of Government, they declare they can have no-
thing to do with ! But then they are graciouQy
pleafed to tell us, that they will not condemn us
if we rifk our Lives to fave their Scalps, toge-
ther with that Government which they will allow
us no Share of. And they give an excellent
Reafon for this •, viz. that becaufe they are ab-
furdly principled againft bearing Arms them-
felves, they muft not, by any means, be incon-
fiftent with this Abfurdity, by making a Law
that requires others to bear Arms. Thofe who
are willing and defirous may, if they pleafe, de-
fend the Province ; but in cafe a fufficient Num-
ber are not willing and de/irous to defend it, we
will not provide for its Safety, as other Pro-
vinces have done for theirs, by compulfive Me-
thods, nor depart one Jot from our Principles,
if it were to fave it from Deftru&ion. Neither
will we give up the Government to others who
would take Care of its Defence \ for the Laws
are all ours, the Country is ours ; and tho' it be
true that great Numbers of People, of other re-
ligious Denominations, are come among us, yet
they came by our Toleration.
And now what more need be faid to fhew how
unjuftly this Province is fwayed by a Faction,
and facrificed to their feparate Interefts. Our
very Laws themfelves breathe the Spirit, and
fpeak the Language, of a Faction, who tell us
that we are all tolerated only by their Grace and
Favour, And yet thefe high and mighty Lords,
who fpeak fo loudly of tolerating others, can plead
no Eftablifhment in their own Behalf. They are
[77 3
far from being the * oldeft Settlers here, and dill
farther from being the mod numerous. Nor are
we in the lead indebted to them or their Laws
for our Right of Settlement. The Royal and
Proprietary Charters, from which their Laws
themfelves derive their whole Force, have fe-
cured the Enjoyment of free and equal Rights,
to the Church of England in particular, and in
general to all who believe in One God.
I have taken the more Notice of this Pream-
ble, to (hew the haughty and partial Manner, in
which our Law-makers treat the good People of
this Province, infinuating that other religious De-
nominations are not upon an equal Footing with
themfelves. As to the Law itftlf, the People
object to it chiefly for the following Reafons.
i ft, There is no Mode of Eleciion preicrib-
ed •, no Perfons being appointed to call the Peo-
ple together, or to prefide in their Bal lotting, lb
that it is only by Chance that they are to meet
and chufe their Officers.
2dly, The Method of executing the Law is
extremely indirect and dilatory ; and half the
Term of its Continuance may be expired, as
well as half the People of the Province mur-
thered, before any thing can be done in confe-
quence of it. For when the former Difficulty is
by Chance got over, and the inferior Officers
chofen, they are to be returned to the Governor ;
and then to be approved By him (if he likes
them) ; and then to have their Com millions made
out •, and then they are to meet (if any one hap-
pens to cail them) to chufe Field-officers •, and
then thefe alfo are to be approved by the Go-
vernor ; and then commiffioned ; and then to be
convened in a Sort of Parliament j artd then to
propoie
* The Szwdts and Uw Dutch firft fettled die Country.
[7^1
propofe and debate upon Articles of War, and
then to print thefe Articles, and then to diftri-
bute and read them to the Companies, and then
the Companies to confider upon them at haft
three Days, and then to fign them if they pleafe,
and perhaps not to fign them after all ; and then
we are juft were we begun ; with this fad Differ-
ence, that all private Afibciations for Defence
are difTolved by the Name of a Military Law \
and all the while that our AfTembly are deviling
Expedients, and making Experiments of unpre-
cedented Laws, to fuit their Republican Schemes
of Power, many innocent Perfons are paying
their Life's Blood as the Price of fuch Madnefs
and Obftinacy. Surely no one would imagine
that ever fuch a Law as this was made to anfwer
an Emergency, when the Enemy were burning
and flaying, and when a Moment's Time was
not to be loft that could pofilbly be faved !
idly. The Partiality of the Law, and the un-
righteous Exemption it gives to particular Per-
fuafions, without any Equivalent to the Public
for fuch an Indulgence, highly difgufts the Peo-
ple, as it leaves them to defend with their Blood
a Sett of Men who have engrofTed almoft all the
Advantages of that Government, from the De-
fence of which they have fo unjuftly exempted
themfelves, which is putting the greater Part of
the Province upon a mod flaviih and unequal
Footing. On this Head the People reafon as
follows.
Defence is the common Duty of all who re-
ceive Protection. Two Things are ablblutely
neceflary for Defence; bodily Force, and
Money, which is the Sinews of Force. In
Cafes where the whole Force of the Community
may be requifite for its Defence, the Laiv itfelf
$t cannot
[79]
cannot difpenfe with the bodily Force of any
Number of Individuals, without violating the an-
tecedent Laws of natural Equity, and the funda-
mental Principles of Society. But where the
whole Force of the Community may r.ot be re-
quifite, the Law may abfolve a few from their
Share in the one Part of Defence, provided they
contribute more than their Share towards the
other. On this Principle, fome are exempted
from bearing Arms in Confideration of their con-
tributing more than their Share of Money, or
4 perhaps Ingenuity •, while others are exempted
from paying of Money in Confideration of their
making Arms their Trade, and confequently giv-
ing more than their Share of perfonal Force.
Now fay the People in this Province, as we
hope the Time will never come when the whole
perfonal Force of this Community may be requi-
site to its Defence, we mould mod hearrily and
charitably excufe Confciences really fcrupulous of
bearing Arms, if the Law, which exempts them,
had provided for their paying an Equivalent
over and above their proper Quota of Money
for the Indulgence of fitting at Home to gee
rich by their Induftry, while we are fpending our
Blood and our Time in the common Caufe.
But, far from this, the prefent Law leaves us in
a worfe Condition than that in which it found us.
It deprives us of our natural Rights, and unjuftly
exempts one Party from that which is the Bufi-
nefs of every Party. For while we defended the
Country without a Law, we could at leaft tell
thofe who were benefited by us, that they owed
us fome Return of Kindnefs ; but as the Law
now Hands we have not even an Opportunity of
making any Perfons think themfelves obliged to
ws in this Refpect j and, if in the leaft we affect
any
[ So]
any of thofe, either in their Perfons or Efta?*St
who rtfufe to aflift us in the Defence both of their
Perfons and Eftates^ we are liable to an Action
of Damages for doing a public Service.
Thus a Law which ought to have provided
for the Defence of the Province has made it law*
ful for any one, or for every one, at Pleafure,
to refufe acting in its Defence; and that Com-
pulfion, which in Cafes of Extremity would be
juft by the Laws of Nature, is now declared un-
juft by the Laws of our Country •, which Laws
muft therefore themfelves be highly unjuft.
4//^/y, The Law fubftitutes a new Legiflature,
who may, if they pleafe, enact the feverefl mili-
tary Articles, and prevent our defending our
Country uniefs we fubject ourfelves to the rigid
Difcipline of Mercenaries, which, however ne-
ceffary in their Cafe, we cannot think fo necef-
fary in a voluntary AfTociation of Freemen, who
would much rather ferve on the common Plan
of Militias.
5/%, Moreover, tho* we have neceflarily
trufted the fupreme Authority of the Province
with a Power of making Laws to affect Life and
Property ; yet we conceive this to be a Truft of
fo facred a Nature, that it never can be delegated
to any others than thofe to whom it was origi-
nally given. It would feem from this that if
our Affembly could fecure their own Party, they 4
care not how fevere the Laws may be that are
extended to other Parties -, uniefs this be meant
as an Expedient to render all military Laws un-
popular for the future. Certainly if our A (Terri-
bly's Confciences do not allow them to meddle
in Matters lb nearly interesting our Liberties and
Rights, as the Afcertainment of the Terms on
which we are to meet and defend our Country,
it
[ 8i ]
it is high Time for them to refign the important
Trufts they hold.
Thefe are fome of the many Objections againft
this Law on the Part of the People. The Go-
vernor likewife has much Reafon to object againtl
it on the Part of the Crown, which is deprived
of that neceflary Security which it ought to have
over the Militia, by the Appointment of the
Officers. And as this Province is circumftanced,
fuch a Security is peculiarly requifite, and the
Want of it might be dangerous, were the Law
to be carried into Execution as it (lands. For
tho' it provides very particularly for figning of
Articles, £s?r. yet neither the Electors nor Elected
are required to take the common Qualifications
to the Government. Bcfides the Foreigners in
the Province, among whom are many Roman
Catholics, will have it in their Power to elect
the chief Part of the Officers, who will in all
Probability be Foreigners alfo •, and what Secu-
rity we may have in iuch a Militia, I fhall not
take upon me to determine, efpecially as the Of-
ficers, whether foreign or home-born, are lb en-
tirely dependent on the Breath of the People.
Having thus given an Account of the military
Law, and the Means by which it was obtained,
I muti obferve to you that the Day * before it
was pafTed, about four Hundred of the Inhabi-
tants, chiefly Dutch, of the bed Sort, from the
back Parts of Philadelphia County, not knowing
what was done, and being unable to fit Hill any
longer, came down to the City in a peaceable
and orderly Manner. Some People being alarm-
ed at the Approach of fuch a Body towards the
City, the Governor lent the Sheriff out to en-
quire what their Intentions were. They replied,
L Chat
* November 24th.
[ 82 ]
that they were friendly, and that they came un-
armed, as Children to their Fathers, imploring
Protection, and a Sufpenfion of all unneceflary
Difputes to another Seafon. Grief and deep Di-
ftrefs were painted in their Looks. They flrft
waited upon the Governor, who came out and
fpoke to them with the greateft Humanity and
Regard. He told them that it was not his Fault
they remained unprotected — He had always been,
and now was, ready to agree to any reafonable
Law for their Defence which the AfTembly might
offer ; and at the fame Time he acquainted them,
that he had two Days before, received a Letter
from the Proprietaries, ordering a free Gift of
five . ihoufand Pounds to be applied towards their
Relief in the prefent Emergency •, which Letter
he mewed to fome of the Heads of the People.
Their Countenances feemed to brighten at the
joyful Tidings, and they departed pouring forth
Bleffings and Acclamations!
They then went to the AfTembly, and having
with Difficulty procured Ad million, they laid
their Grievances before them. The AfTembly
attempted to throw the Blame on the Governor,
and afked the People, if they would be pleafed
to have their Liberties given up. The People
replied, that they neither would nor could enter
into the Merits of the prefent Difputes ; that
they wanted Protection, and did not underftand
what Liberties they had to give up when their
Lives were every Hour in Danger. The Af-
fembly feeing what turn Things were like to
take, thought fit to promife them immediate Re-
lief; and accordingly a Bill granting fixty thou-
fand Pounds to the King's Ufe, including the
Proprietary Gift of five thoufand Pounds, was
fent up to the Governor the next Day, which he
paffed
[ 83 ]
patted immediately, as he would have done four
Months before, had the AfTembly then thought
fit to allow the Governor a Voice in the Difpofi-
tion of the Money, and to depart for a while at
ieafl: from their mod unjuft Propofal of taxing
their Proprietors by Perfons who in no Shape re-
prefent them ; both which they confented to at
lafr, when they could carry their Oppofition no
farther.
Thus have I given you a full Account of this
extraordinary Debate, which was carried on for
four whole Months, as if it had been a Contefl
pro Arts &? Focis. And yet, by a fair Calcula-
tion, it would not have eafed the Taxables in
this Province above Two-pence Sterling one with
another •, and therefore it might eafily have been
given up on the Part of the AfTembly, as no
preceding AfTembly had ever attempted to lay
fuch a Tax before ; whereas, on the Part of the
Proprietors, I have fhewn that it could not be
given up, without giving up their Rights both
as Englijhmen^ and as chief Governors of the
Province
Now, that it was not the Value of the Pro-
prietary-tax, but the Power of taxing, which
the AfTembly aimed at all this while, was early
difcovered, by their refufing the Value when of-
fered by the voluntary Sublcription of feveral In-
habitants of Philadelphia, who being fincerely
affected to fee fuch an unfeafonable Difpute in-
troduced, humbly prayed the AfTembly to accept
of their faid Sublcription as the full Value of the
Proprietary-tax, that the diftrefftd back Settlers
might obtain immediate Relief, till fuch Time
as this new Difpute could be fettled in the pro-
per Manner. But this Propofal they rejected
with Scorn, as alio another made by the Gover-
L 2 nor
[ 84 ]
nor (and mentioned above) for framing a fepa-
rate and equitable Bill, to tax the Proprietors by
AffelTors to be partly chofen by the Governor,
and partly by the Affembly ; with a fufpending
Claufe, fubmitting it to his Majefty's Royal De-
termination, whether the Proprietary Eftate was
taxable or not.
But none of thefe Expedients fuited the Af-
fembly's Plan. The Diftrefs of their Country
was their Opportunity, and they were determi-
ned, that if they muft facrifice their Principles,
by levying Money on the Quakers for Defence^
they mould obtain a full Equivalent by the Ac-
eomplifhment of their iniquitous Scheme of af-
firming to themfelves all the Rights of Go-
vernment, and thereby gratifying their uniuft
Refentment againft a Family to which they
owe the higheft Obligations, and whofe fingle
Offence againft them is perhaps the leaving their
religious Society, and preferring the general In-
terest of the Province, to that of the Quaker
Hierarchy,
I hope you will not imagine that I have
been too circumftantial in thefe Matters, or that
I make them of more Importance than they re-
ally are. The Conduct of this rich and popu-
lous Province, has fo clofe a Connexion with
every Scheme that is projected for the Good of
thefe Colonies, and the Quaker Politics have fo
pernicious an Influence upon the Conduct of the
Province, that I could not, with any Juftice, be
Jefs circumftantial in my Account of thefe Facts
and Anecdotes concerning them, which I have
endeavoured, as far as Time would permit, to
lay together in a Manner that may prove leaft
tedious to the Reader.
It
[ 85 ]
It is true, one Point is carried, and the Money
is obtained. But how was it obtained ? Were
they not evidently forced into a Compliance? and
had I any Grounds to think that they have re-
folved to change their Conduct for the future,
I mould, on this Occafion, have been filent as
the Grave. But, alas ! if any Man can think
thus of them, he knows them not ! While they
continue to keep the Power fo'ely in their own
Hands, it will be as impofilble to reconcile Light
and Darknefs, as to make them prefer the gene.-
ral Intcrefts of the Province to that of their
own Party, till Things are brought to the very
Jaft Extremity. We mould have the fame Dif-
putes acted over again, were it necefTary to pro-
pofe another Money-Bill to-morrow. And what
honed Heart can be filent while fuch a difmal
Profpect lies before us ? Molt certainly we have
fuffered too much from their idle Difputes al-
ready, and I am pained at my very Heart to re-
flect upon what we have fuffered !
Indeed, had there been no Inconveniences
arifing from their Conduct but the Lofs of Time,
they might be forgiven ! Nay, had the Lofs of
our Property, and the laying wafte a great Part
of the Province, been the only LofTcs fuftained,
thefe alfo, by future Induftry, might have been
repaired. But, alas ! who fhall gather up the in-
nocent Blood that has been fpilt upon our Bor-
ders, and in the very Heart of our Country,
during their obftinate Continuance of a moft in-
fignificant Debate •, and their more obftinate Re-
fufal to frame a proper Militia Law.
For my part, I bear the Quakers no Ill-will,
as they are Men : In that Capacity they have
never offended me, and I wifh them well. But,
as they are Rulers, Jpmbly-Men, Politicians,
and
[ 86 ]
and unrighteous Monopolizers of Power, purfu-
ing feparate Interefts from their Country, and
facrificing the Majority of their Fellow-Subjects
to thefe dirty Interefts : — I fay, in this Capacity, I
am at mortal Enmity with them, and look upon
them as Enemies to their Country, as well as
acting directly contrary to thofe Principles which
their Forefathers have profeffed to the World.
For, if they were really that meek and primitive
People they pretend to be, would they delight to
embroil themfelves in Government, at a Time
when they are avowedly unfit for it, and thereby
fill their Country with Difcord, Confufion, and
Mifery ? And all the while they are doing this,
they very civilly tell us, that it is for our Good
that it fhould be fo ; and that all their Debates
are for the Prefcrvation of our Liberties ! —
Molt confummate Impudence ! What Liberties
have we worth preferving, when the Legiilature
is a Junto •, when the greater Part of the Province
is injurioully denied its due Proportion of Re-
prefentatives •, when one Perfuafion claims an ex-
clufive Right of Government •, and when we are
left at the Mercy of our Enemies, deprived of
the great firft Privilege of Nature, the Privilege
of defending our Lives, and protecting' our Fa-
milies, unlefs we will at the lame Time defend
the Lives, and protect the Families of our haugh-
ty Mafters, without the leaft Recompence or Re-
ward, unlefs they graciouQy think fit to beltow
it on us.
While thefe Things are fo, I will reprefent, I
will remonftrate, nay, I will foiemnly protelt
againft fuch eftablifloed Iniquity, and will never
be filent till I fee Juftice triumphant, the People
protected, and the Avenues of public Truft and
Preferment opened to Men of public Merit and
Inte-
[87 ]
Integrity, of whatfoever Denomination or Party.
And as long as I am confcious of purfuing this
Plan, the Terms of Reproach thrown out againlt
me by a Faclion, I fhall confider as Epithets of
Honour. And thus I think I may juftly conclude
at large with the Lines from which I took my
Motto, as they were never more applicable than
in the prefent Cafe •, for our Senators are great
Admirers of the Venetian Conflitution.
" 7affier • I'd be a mod notorious Villain,
To fee the Sufferings of my Fellow-Creatures,
And own myfelf a Man. To fee our Senators
Cheat the deluded People with a Shew
Of Liberty, which yet they never tafte of.
" They fay by them our Hands are free from
" Fetters,
" Yet whom they pleafe they bring to Shame
" and Sorrow,
" Drive us like Wrecks down the rough Tide of
" Power,
" While there's no Hold to fave us from De-
" frru&ion.—
All that bear this are Villain?, and I one
Did I not rife, at the great Call of Nature,
To check the Growth of thefc Domestic
" Spoilers,
" Who make us Slaves, and tell us — 'tis our
" CHARTER."
it
Philadelphia,
December 8, 1755.
I am, &C.
POST-
[88]
POSTSCRIPT.
I Send you the following Postscript to my
Jong Letter. The Scalping continues!
Yefterday the Dutch brought down for upwards
of 60 Miles, in a Waggon, the Bodies of fome
of their Countrymen who had been juft icalped
by the Indians, and -threw them at the Stadt-
Houfe Door, curfing the Quakers Principles, and
bidding the Committee of Affembly behold the
^Fruits of their Obftinacy, and confefs that their
pretended Sanctity would not fave the Province
without the Ufe oT Means ; at the fame Time
threatening, that if they mould come down on
^a like Errand again-, and find nothing done for
their Protection, the Conlequences fbould be
' fatal.— * A Dutch Mob is a terrible Thing ; but
Methods are taking to pacify them, and prevent it.
December 1 cth.
FINIS.
—
London, Feb. 2, 1756.
In a ,few Days ztpll be publijhed\ Price One Shilling
The ThiiId Edition of
A Brief State of the Province of Pennsylvania,
in which the Conduct of their Assemblies for
feveral Years paft is impartially examined, and the true
Caufe of the continual Encroachments. Of the French
difplayed, more efpecially the fecret Defign of their late
unwarrantable Invafion and Settlement upon the River
Ohio. To which is annexed, an eafy Plan for refto-
ring Quiet in the public Meafures of that Province, and
deieating the ambitious Views of the French in time to
come. In a Lette R from a Gentleman who has refi-
ded many Years in Pennfylvania to his Friend in London*
* *
• .)
'# *
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